Whispered Promises

Chapter 25

Over the next two hours, Matt took devilish pleasure in reminding Dani of their forthcoming meeting every opportunity that he got, as if she needed reminding. Whether it was a simple glance, a gentle smile or the briefest of touches, everything he did screamed of their new-found intimacy and seemed the fill the air with an expectancy that was nearly palpable.

Even with all the excitement of the wedding, and her concern that everything go perfectly, Jordan noticed the change in her daughter and cast curious looks her way whenever she caught sight of her. Seeing her now, and watching as Matt joined her at her side and ran a teasing caress over her bottom, that had Jordan's eyebrows lifting in surprise, especially when Dani sent him a teasing smile in return, did she truly begin to wonder what was going on.

"Trust me; you don't want to know," Remy offered with a light laugh, suddenly appearing at Jordan's side and understanding the motherly scowl on Jordan's lovely face as she followed her line of vision.

Jordan looked into Remy's smiling face and couldn't help but return the smile. "You're probably right. However, I think I'd be happier if Mr. Tanner wasn't being quite so territorial with my daughter's bottom."

A dozen remarks rushed to Remy's lips, but she managed to subdue the urge to add to Jordan's concern and simply smiled in understanding. "It's a wedding, Jordan. Everyone plays grab-ass at weddings. You know that," she stated with a wicked laugh.

"That's what worries me," Jordan acknowledged flatly.

A small frown creased Remy's brow. "I thought you liked Mr. Tanner?" she asked quietly.

"I do; very much. He's been wonderful Dani. But as you said, wedding's do strange things to people and I would hate to see them doing things they might not otherwise do, things that might cause them problems down the road. If you get my drift?" Jordan explained dryly.

Too late! Remy thought to herself, then wondered just how far their intimacy had evolved. Then again, she knew for a fact he hadn't just been hiding under the desk when she had entered the library and conversed with Dani, or Dani wouldn't have been squirming and blushing and stammering the way she had been. Nope, those two were on the fast track to becoming lovers, if they weren't already! "Dani's a smart girl. She's been raised properly and probably knows more about the world than either you or I do. I wouldn't worry about her," she offered calmly.

Jordan sent her a curious glance. "And if it was your daughter's bottom Mr. Tanner had his hand on?"

"I'd be on him like a hungry flea on a fat dog!" she stated tartly.

Jordan sent her friend an amused look. "That's what I thought."

Remy shook her head in dramatic misery. "We've turned into worrisome Mama's, Jordan," Remy complained.

"We've always been worrisome Mama's; we're just being more obvious about it today!" Jordan countered, looped her arm through Remy's and with a nod of her head, asked, "How about we find ourselves some champagne and leave the worrying for later?"

"Sounds like a fine plan to me!" Remy agreed.

After all, it was a wedding! Who bothered to count the glasses of champagne they consumed?

* * * * *

Dani watched her brother and Chloe from the edge of the dance floor, dancing as close as two people could without causing a riot and couldn't help the smile the curved her lips. They had endured so much, it was only right their wedding would be magical and leave everlasting memories for all involved. She knew she would never forget the night; and it wasn't over yet.

"Two hours and counting," Matt murmured deeply from behind her, having stolen up silently, one arm sliding around her slim waist and pulling her back against his body. His breath was a warm caress against her bare shoulders that left her senses tingling.

Dani closed her eyes as pleasure washed over her and wondered how she was ever going to survive the night with Matt. If their earlier encounter was any indication of the enchantment he could weave, there wasn't going to be much left of her but a pile of ashes by morning. "Do you have some place to be in two hours?" Dani asked innocently, attempting to sound flippant.

"Only between the most wonderful set of thighs I've ever tasted in my life," he murmured wickedly in her ear, his arm pulling her more tightly against his hard body.

Dani's eyes widened in astonishment and heat swirled to the center of her being at his vivid words. "Shhh," she scolded him, casting apprehensive looks around her, hoping no one had heard his comment.

"It's true," he elaborated, tormenting her with a nipping bite, and then soothing kiss to the spot where her shoulder met her neck. "I've never tasted anything so sweet in all my life. You could be a Georgia peach the way you taste."

Dani's eyes nearly crossed as his words sent fire through her veins and she found her knees threatening to dissolve beneath her. "Matthew Tanner, you're forgetting you're a gentleman," she murmured dazedly.

"There's a place to be a gentleman and a place to be a rogue. I happen to know you would rather have a rogue between your thighs than a gentleman. I'm simply doing my best to see you satisfied," he murmured, his voice a deep, husky drawl that had every sensation he had brought her surging to life again.

"Hah! You're doing your best to see me driven to the point of madness, and begging for mercy before you see me satisfied!" Dani countered huskily.

"Not true," Matt argued teasingly in a seductively deep voice. "Although, I will admit, the thought of you begging for mercy has a certain appeal. I can assure you though, you will come away satisfied regardless of whether you beg for mercy or not," he concluded wickedly.

"You're enjoying this aren't you? You've decided tormenting me fulfills a need in you that you weren't aware was missing - until now," Dani growled accusingly over her shoulder.

Matt's broad shoulders lifted in a nonchalant shrug. "Call it what you will, but I want to consider the next few hours a time of anticipatory foreplay; something to escalate the senses. You were right when you said anticipation is a good thing," he commented lightly.

"Yeah? Well forget I ever brought it up! Anticipation is highly overrated!" she complained, only to find herself moaning softly as Matt's lips worked more magic against her neck.

"Not on your life. You made the rules; live with them," Matt whispered huskily.

"If I made the rules, I can break them," Dani quipped airily.

"But you won't. You play by the book; even when you find it to your disadvantage, simply because rules are rules. You're too honest for your own good," Matt stated knowingly.

"There's a first time for everything!"

"For some things," he agreed. "But not for this; regardless of how crazy it makes you!"

Dani turned slightly in his arms, just far enough around to let her eyes meet his. "What makes you so certain I won't chicken out and not show up? That I won't leave you - pardon the pun - hanging in the breeze?"

Matt's eyes blazed with passion and need and reflected Dani's own emotions back at her. He didn't have a doubt she would meet him at two o'clock, as they'd agreed. He could feel her need for him washing over him in waves of heat; could feel her trembling in his arms, and it wasn't from fear. Her eyes told him as clearly as if she had spoken the words aloud; I want you! "Because, Darlin', you got a brief glimpse earlier of what it will be like when we finally quit dancing around each other and stop backing away from what's meant to be. You may be apprehensive about the unknown, but you're not a coward."

"And if I said I'd changed my mind, and wasn't ready to take things between us beyond where they are right now?" she asked quietly.

Outwardly, one eyebrow lifted in question, and his breath caught in surprise, but he showed no other sign her question affected him. "I'd respect your decision; it would drive me crazy, but I would respect it," he answered calmly.

Dani cast a glance around her, noted the small crowd had thinned somewhat, and those that remained on the dance floor were involved with each other and paying no attention to what was going on around them. Turning in his arms, she looked him square in the eye, slid one hand between their bodies and pressed her hand against his groin. "Sometimes you're too honest too, Tanner, and I can assure you, I have no intention of skipping out on you and fully intend to meet you, as promised. But be warned, you'd better be prepared - and I do mean fully prepared - to take care of this fire you started, or I swear, you will never live it down," Dani growled in warning,

Matt unconsciously moved his hips against her hand, clenching his teeth, and holding his breath, as her hand warmly cupped his swelling manhood. The fire in her eyes left him believing every word she spoke and her sharp nails were clearly evident, even through the material of his pants and under clothes. "Understood," he managed to mumble, closing his eyes as she gently tormented his body.

"Good," she whispered against his mouth, and kissed him lightly before releasing him and dashing away in a swirl of red chiffon and innocently seductive perfume.

It took a good minute for Matt's mind to stop swirling and his body to stop vibrating with need. And when it did, he cast a helpless glance heavenward and whispered, "God, help me. The woman's going to kill me before this is all over!"

But then, the more he thought about it, was there really a better way to die?

* * * * *

"Mr. Matt&ldots; Mr. Matt&ldots; Mr. Matt&ldots;" Emily's voice grew more excited as she drew closer to him, dodging around the few remaining people still in the garden, and made a beeline straight into his arms.

Matt scooped her up, noted her shining, but tired blue eyes, pale face, and drooping blond curls. "My word, Miss Emily. How many glasses of soda pop have you been sipping to have you wound so tightly?" Matt asked with a deep chuckle, giving her a kiss on her cheek. "Do you have any idea what time it is? I'm surprised you're even still awake."

"Almost Cinderella time!" Emily answered with wide eyes and a knowing expression.

Matt cast a quick glance at his watch, and sure enough, it was bumping towards twelve. "Right, as usual. So why are you running through this garden screaming my name and not snuggled in bed and dreaming of princes?"

Emily barely stifled her yawn. "'Cause," Emily hinted, then rolled her eyes at Matt confused look and explained. "I haven't got to dance with you yet tonight, and Mama says this is the last time I get to dance so I had to find you quick!"

"Ah." Matt answered, nodding his head in agreement.

"I would have danced with you earlier, but it was hard to find you sometimes and when I did find you once you and Dani were in Grampa 'Leksei's office and Miss Remy said I shouldn't bother you. Then, after you came out, you looked kinda funny so I didn't want to bother you then either. And then you danced with other people and now this is my last chance to get to dance with you!" Emily finished breathlessly.

Thankfully, in the subdued lighting of the garden, Emily didn't notice, or at least didn't mention, the rush of heat that filled Matt's face as he thought about how disastrous things could have become if Emily had entered the study. He didn't have the foggiest idea how he would have explained that one away! "Well, lucky for you, I've got just enough energy for one more dance and I can't think of anyone I would rather be dancing with than you," he offered gallantly, taking her hand, and bowing over it.

"Not even Miss Dani?" she asked in surprise.

"Well&ldots;" Matt sighed, tilting his head and giving her a thoughtful look. "She is indeed wonderful to dance with, but you've asked so nicely and she's not here. Besides, Miss Dani and I have plans to dance a little later," he stated with an easy shrug and a dazzling smile.

"Okay," Emily agreed brightly and found herself carried on to the dance floor.

 Almost as soon as they reached the center of the dance floor, Emily was waving to the small orchestra and they were suddenly, but smoothly, shifting into the waltz from Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella. With a look of amazement and a deep chuckle, Matt swirled Emily into the waltz, her velvet cape flying about her as the two circled the dance floor in sweeping steps. Matt's arms held her safely, their faces only inches apart, a dazzling smile on Emily's lips.

Within the gazebo, Emily's mother stood beside Dani, watching as her daughter was waltzed about the garden to her favorite music and couldn't stop the tears that filled her eyes. As Emily's delighted laughter filled the air, her lips curved into a smile filled with joy and yet she couldn't stop the rush of sadness that swamped her as thought about all her daughter would not experience. Emily would never go to a prom, or get married, never experience the wonder and joy of holding her own child in her arms. So many things she would miss out on; too many things to number.

Dani could feel the sadness that emanated off Andie in waves and slipped one arm supportively around her slim waist, giving her a comforting hug. She had only to look into Emily's mother's eyes to see all she was feeling, Dani felt the same, and yet, for this one golden moment, the world was perfect. "Don't think about tomorrow Andie, concentrate on right this minute. Emily's healthy&ldots;" Both their heads turned at Emily's scream of delight and watched as Matt lowered her into a dramatic dip and then swept her back into the dance. "and obviously happy," Dani began, only to be interrupted.

"And completely enamored of Matt," Andie added with a watery smile, and knowing look.

"Your daughter has excellent taste in men," Dani countered. "First Daddy, then Sergei, and now Matt. The girl knows a good thing when she sees it!"

"What about you?" Andie asked, sending Dani a searching look.

"What about me?"

"Do you know a good thing when you see it?"

Dani cast Andie sidelong look. "Are you inquiring if I am as enamored of Mr. Tanner as your daughter is?"

Andie simply raised her eyebrows, and tilted her head in question.

"I'm way beyond enamored," Dani whispered shakily, her system filling with energy as she thought of everything that had happened in the previous hours, of what was yet to come. "I love him," Dani offered softly.

Andie sent her a gentle look and simply stated, "Oh."

Dani's hands fluttered nervously. "The thing is I'm still trying to figure out of it's just a physical attraction, or if it's something that's going to last forever."

Andie cast an appreciative glance at Matt, and couldn't help smiling at his handsome physique, despite it being covered in black silk. Nothing could hide his broad shoulders and long muscular legs. And still, he continued to dance with Emily. The orchestra had to be playing every song from Cinderella, and yet Matt continued to hold Emily, swirling her in giddy circles. On and on he danced with his petite partner, smiling into her flushed face and looking as if he could keep going all night long. "I can see how you might find him attractive," Andie offered drolly, laughing at Dani's look of amazement at her statement.

Dani looked at Matt, and barely managed to stop her sigh of desire as she looked at his gorgeous body encased in his tuxedo. "What is it about men in tuxedos?" she whispered a bit breathlessly, her eyes moving hotly over his body.

Andie watched Dani and smiled knowingly. "Dani, Matt could be wearing a grass skirt and you'd look at him the same way you're looking at him now."

Dani looked at her in surprise. "Oh? And how would that be?"

"Like you'd be perfectly happy gobbling him up right here, and the only thing saving him from you is that there are still enough people around to keep you from publicly embarrassing yourselves," she answered calmly, holding her hand up when Dani opened her mouth to comment. "However, I have the sneaking suspicion, that after everyone's gone and all is quiet, his safety net is history."

Dani looked into Andie's eyes and saw understanding, but also saw concern. "The man drives me crazy. He makes me feel things I've never felt - not even with Hunter - and I can't seem to stop myself from wanting more. I feel like I'm perched on a cliff and the wind's coming up. I don't know how much longer I can stand leaving things as they are!"

Andie nodded in understanding. It wasn't that long ago that she had felt many of the same things Dani was feeling now. But her life had changed so much in such a short time that there wasn't time to remember those feelings. This was Emily's time, and until things were resolved, that was all she would concentrate on. "There's more to a relationship than simply the physical side of things," Andie stated. "Great sex doesn't necessarily make for a lasting relationship. What happens after sex is often more important than the act itself."

"I'll have to take your word for that," Dani stated sardonically, exhaling a frustrated breath.

Andie chuckled lightly. She could feel Dani's frustration rolling off her in waves. "Sometimes the chase is more exciting than the capture!"

"Not in this case!" Dani countered, blushing under Andie's questioning look and raised eyebrows.

"I don't think I want to know how you know this."

"Good, because I don't want to have to tell you," Dani countered with a light laugh.

The two women exchanged smiles and went back to watching Matt as he continued to swirl Emily around the dance floor. In silent camaraderie, they stood in the gazebo, and watched as slowly, one by one, the few remaining pairs slid to a stop and watched as Matt waltzed Emily in wide circles.

Amidst twinkling white lights, and gently falling snowflakes, a church bell rang in Christmas Day.

"Do you hear that, Princess," Matt asked Emily softly.

Emily lifted her face to the sky, smiling as snowflakes floated around them and teased her flushed cheeks. "I hear bells."

"That's right. Church bells. It's Christmas!" he whispered in delight.

Emily's blue eyes widened in delight and awe. "It is? I'd forgotted about that."

Matt blinked in surprise. "You forgot about Christmas?"

"All I could think about was dancing with you before midnight. I forgotted it was almost Christmas too!"

"Well, now that I've reminded you. What did you ask Santa to bring you?" Matt asked gently.

Emily's blue eyes held Matt's and she answered with one little word, in a voice as old as the universe, and as calm as a still lake. "Time."

Emily's simple answer took Matt aback and his mind went blank and his heart grew heavy as he came to realize what she was asking for. Seeing her as she was now, it was easy to forget how precarious her hold on the world was. But it was, obviously, a constant thought in her mind. Time was something she knew was limited and the one thing she wanted more of. "And what would you do with more time?" he asked quietly, his voice husky and rough.

Emily's small shoulders lifted in a minute shrug. "See Mama smile more, get to see little Emily be borned, watch Dani and you win medals at the Olympics. Stuff like that."

"What about you? Isn't there something you want for yourself?"

Emily pondered Matt's question for a moment and with a shy glance into Matt's steady eyes voiced her request. "For me, I would like to pretend for just one night, I have a daddy who loved me and he would snuggle with me and watch Cinderella with me and hold me till I falled asleep."

It was such a simple request. Despite his heart being crushed in a steel grip as his emotions ran rampant, he sent her a dazzling smile and a saucy wink and asked, "I don't know if I exactly fit the bill of a daddy? But I'd be happy to snuggle with you and watch Cinderella with you," he offered softly, looking deeply into her eyes.

"Really? And would you hold me till I falled asleep too?"

"I would love to hold you until you fall asleep!" Matt stated deeply, meaning it with all his heart.

"Wow!" Emily sighed in amazement and awe; her blue eyes wide and filled with love and trust.

 Over Matt's shoulder, she watched as her mother and Dani approached them, a wide smile curving her lips. "Mama, Mr. Matt's gonna watch Cinderella with me and snuggle and hold me till I go to sleep!" She stated excitedly.

Andie cast a curious expression at Matt. "Did he now?"

"Yes, he did. So I'm gonna go get my jammies on so we can snuggle longer!" Emily stated, wiggling from Matt's arms, and sliding to the ground.

In a whirl of velvet, Emily dashed away, only to turn around and run back into her mother's arms. "Merry Christmas, Mama!" she offered, giving her a smacking kiss on her lips and a dazzling smile, before turning to Dani and extending the same greeting, then dashing off toward the house, her excitement leaving her practically vibrating.

"She's never going to calm down and go to sleep tonight," Andie sighed tiredly.

"You're probably right," Dani agreed.

"I don't know about that. I bet she's asleep before she makes it through Cinderella," Matt countered with a smug look.

Dani and Andie exchanged skeptical looks. "You don't know how much my daughter loves that movie. You're going to be seeing it in your dreams by the time she's through with you!" Andie threatened with a light laugh.

"We'll see," Matt countered, and with a smile and slight bow, stated. "If you ladies will excuse me, there's a lovely young lady waiting for me in her bed!"

For a few seconds, the two women watched appreciatively as he walked away from them. Just watching him move was enough to make Dani's blood boil hotly and her nerve endings sing. "She's waiting in my bed," Dani called after him.

Matt stopped and turned around. "Pardon me?"

"Emily's sleeping in my room tonight," Dani explained with a teasing smile and shining eyes. "She's in my bed."

Matt's mind went blank then swirled madly with images of Dani naked and soft beneath him. "Oh," was the best response he could muster, before he shook his head to clear the arousing images from his mind and headed off to find Emily.

Dani's smile was wicked and Andie could only chuckle at the younger woman's comments. It was clear Dani was taking great pleasure in teasing Matt. For the moment, Dani appeared to be the victorious one. But who was to say would be the final winner in their game?

"This point's yours," Andie stated sardonically.

"What do you mean?" Dani asked, trying to appear innocent of Andie's comment.

Andie cocked one eyebrow at her and shook her head in bemusement. "Don't play stupid with me, Dani. I was young once, too, you know? I remember all the little sexual tease and torment games that go on between two people attracted to each other. What I want to know, is are you ready to admit defeat when he beats you at your own game?"

Dani sent her a sidelong glance, and sly smile. "What makes you think Matt's going to win this little skirmish?"

Andie rolled her eyes in disbelief at Dani's innocent words and shook her head in exasperation. "Sweetie, that man's going to eat you alive when he finally decides to end this little game you're playing. What I want to know is, are you're prepared for it?"

Dani's dazzling smile and brightly shining eyes clearly stated her answer.

* * * * *

Forty-five minutes later, Dani slipped into her bedroom to find Matt curled on his side, sound asleep, with Emily tucked snugly into the curve of his body, still wide awake and quietly watching Cinderella. Sliding gently onto her bed, Dani laid down beside her, their heads sharing the same pillow. "I thought you were supposed to be sleeping?" she asked quietly, running a gentle hand over her blonde curls.

"Not 'til Cinderella is over. I promised Mr. Matt I'd go to sleep after it's over," she whispered back.

Dani nodded in understanding and agreement. "Do you mind if I watch the ending with you?"

Emily's mouth split into a wide grin. "Course not. I always like watching it better with someone."

"Matt's here," Dani countered with a nod of her head.

"He's sleeping! He's missing the best parts of the movie," Emily whispered.

Dani couldn't help the smile that curved her lips. "Well, you know, some people just don't appreciate a good movie the way others do?"

Emily sent Matt a brief glance filled with skepticism and chewed her lip. "Do you think it's 'cause he's a boy that he doesn't like Cinderella?"

Dani shrugged. "Oh, I don't know. The Prince was a boy and he liked Cinderella!" Dani offered quietly.

"Oh, yeah," Emily agreed. "Then why did he fall asleep? He said he was going to watch it with me and then hold me 'til I falled asleep."

Dani ran her hand through Emily's blond curls and smiled softly into her face. "I think it's just been a very long, and exciting day, and snuggled up against your warm little body, he simply couldn't stay awake any longer."

"He's as bad as Grampa 'Leksei. Every time he snuggles with me, he falls asleep too!" Emily stated firmly.

Dani couldn't help the smile that lit up her eyes as she remembered all the times her father had snuggled in bed with her, when she'd been little, and then found himself asleep in her bed. There was just something inherently wonderful about snuggling next to a warm, little body, filled with joy and happiness that made the world a wonderful place, even if only for a little while. "Daddy's can be like that," Dani allowed serenely.

Emily cast another glance up towards Matt's sleeping face, and lightly rubbed the arm that draped over her small body. "I think Matt will make a good daddy," Emily stated simply.

"What makes you say that?" Dani asked softly.

"Cause he's nice to snuggle with, and he can sleep with the TV on, and he doesn't snore too loud. He hasn't drooled - at least not yet - and he doesn't hog the covers, or the bed," she explained, then shyly added, "And he's not afraid to hug and kiss me."

Dani's heart squeezed tightly at her final words and she struggled to keep her voice steady. "Those are all very good reasons, and I think you're right. Matt will make a wonderful father; some day."

For several minutes, Emily and Dani turned their attention to the TV and watched Cinderella as she went to the ball, danced with the prince, and then fell in love with him. Emily's happy giggle had Dani casting her a questioning glance.

Emily pointed her finger at the TV screen and stated, "That's how Mr. Matt looks at you; all gooey and lovey eyes!"

Dani's eyes widened in surprise and she barely managed to keep her own bright laugh subdued. "He does not!"

"Yeah, I do not!" Matt agreed deeply, pulling Emily closer to his body, lowering his head and blowing raspberries against her cheek. The next thing she knew, she was being tickled mercilessly, and it was all Dani could do to avoid Emily's kicking feet as she half-heartedly struggled to escape Matt's light grasp. Gales of laughter erupted from Emily at Matt's playfulness, and it was several minutes before order was restored and the threesome returned to watching the movie.

In comfortable silence, with Emily tucked back snugly against Matt's body, the three watched as the Prince searched for Cinderella, always believing he would find her, certain that his love for her would bring him back to her.

And as the closing credits rolled, Matt felt Emily go limp against his body as she slipped into sleeps welcoming arms and looked down into her face. Gently brushing away golden curls that teased her cheeks, he found himself smiling at the silken softness of her skin. Her cupid mouth was curled in a secretive smile and parted slightly as she breathed quietly. If he had never believed in angels before, Emily was certainly proof that such creatures existed, because Matt couldn't believe any one this pure of heart and filled with so much love could be anything but an angel.

Dani watched Matt's face, as he memorized every minute detail of Emily and smiled in understanding. How many times had she done the exact same thing, never wanting to forget a single, minute detail about the little girl? "She's amazing, isn't she?" Dani asked softly.

"Amazing doesn't begin to describe her," he stated reverently, gently leaning over and giving her a last kiss good night before carefully slipping his arm from beneath her head.

Together, Dani and Matt tucked the blankets in around Emily, turned off the TV and video tape and leaving a small night light on, cast one final awed look at the angel in Dani's bed, and left the room, closing the door quietly behind them.

In silence, they went back down stairs; each lost in their own thoughts, suddenly uncertain of how, or what to say to each other.

The dilemma was solved as Jordan and Aleksei came around the corner, into the foyer. "We were just coming to find you two," Aleksei stated with a smile. "We're breaking tradition. We decided we'd let you open one Christmas present on Christmas Eve."

"Daddy, officially it's Christmas Day already," Dani countered.

"Semantics," Aleksei grumbled, nodding in the direction of the family. "Everyone's waiting. Let's go."

Dani sent her mother a look filled with both amusement and a bit of confusion, but followed her father's lead, pulling Matt behind her.

There, in the family room, were Chloe, Sergei, Whittaker, Dee, and Andie sipping egg nog and waiting for the others to join them.

"What's this about?" Dani asked her brother in a quiet whisper, sliding onto the love seat and scooting over to make room for Matt.

Sergei only shrugged his shoulders; he didn't know anymore than she did.

Jordan offered Dani and Matt glasses of egg nog, and took a seat beside where he husband stood.

All eyes turned expectantly to Aleksei.

"All right, Rocmanov, get on with this fast. I'm barely awake as it is and I can't guarantee I'm going to remember much, if any of this, come tomorrow if you don't make your announcement soon."

"Announcement?" Dani asked quietly, casting her father a look of concern, and her mother a look filled with questions.

Aleksei's deep laughter echoed at his daughter's shocked expression. "I'm retiring, Dani, not dying!"

"Retiring!" Everyone but Jordan asked the same question at the same time.

"Why the hell didn't you mention this to me?" Whittaker bellowed.

"You're not old enough to be retiring!" Dani stated.

"You've never mentioned retiring before," Chloe added, nudging Sergei lightly with her elbow, encouraging him to say something.

"It's about time you had a break, Dad. I wish you luck!" Sergei offered quietly, sending his father an understanding look, acknowledging for, perhaps the first time, that his father wasn't a young man any longer, despite his attempts to make everyone think of him as such. Time was marching on, it was time everyone admitted it and adjusted their lives accordingly.

"Thank you," Aleksei returned to Sergei quietly, sending his son a grateful smile, once again realizing how very grown up Sergei was and thanking God for giving him such a wonderful son.

Everyone spoke at once, trying to understand how things could change in such a brief time, wondering how long it would be before Aleksei missed life on the, as he knew it, and came out of retirement. Heaven knew it had happened before. How did one simply give up something they'd been doing their whole life and not miss it?

"When do you 'officially retire', Daddy?" Dani finally asked the question, no one else seemed to have the courage to ask.

Aleksei looked down into his wife's smiling face, and in a steady voice stated, "Our final skate will be at the Olympics Exhibition Gala. God willing, all the Rocmanov's will perform together there. And who knows, maybe we'll all be wearing gold."

"Is the International Olympic Committee going to allow you to do that? They can be a rather difficult group to deal with," Dani stated. It wasn't any secret the IOC had rumpled more than a few people feathers over unusual requests.

"The IOC, ISU, and USFSA have all agreed to your father's request. If it's any consolation, they were just as shocked at his announcement," Jordan stated honestly.

Dani sent her father a searching look, and in his ebony eyes saw all the answers to her questions. Life moved on, things changed. That's what life was about - moving forward. Lifting her glass of egg nog, she sent her father a dazzling smile, despite the tears filling her eyes, and voiced huskily, "To Aleksei Rocmanov: skating legend, loyal friend, and the most incredible father on the planet. I wish you only happiness as you begin this next chapter in your life."

"Here! Here!" cheers of agreement were made, and glasses clinked together as well wishes were shared.

And as the grandfather clock gonged the hour of two o'clock, secretive glances were shared, excuses made and everyone left for their respective bedrooms.

At two-thirty, Dani tapped on the door to the guest room Matt was staying in, and slipped silently inside. Flipping on the light, she started to find Matt sitting on the bed, slipping on his white socks, and zipping up his fleece vest.

"What took you so long? I expected you fifteen minutes ago?" Matt asked with an easy smile, taking in her black form-fitting pants and the red turtleneck shirt under her own fleece vest.

"What?" Dani asked, completely baffled by his words.

"We are going skating aren't we?" Matt asked, coming to his feet, and walking to meet her where she stood, scooping up his skating bag beside the door.

Dani shook her head in confusion. She'd fully expected him to be furious with her after she told him she needed to skate - not wanted to, but needed to - certain he wouldn't understand her request, after she had teased and tormented him sexually all evening. "I thought you'd be mad at me," she stated quietly.

"Because you need to be on the ice where your father taught you to skate? You know me better than that, Darlin'. Ice is in both of our blood. We skate when we're happy, when we're sad, when we're frustrated, angry, or trying to figure things out. I have no reason to be mad at you," he said with a light shake of his head.

"But all evening, we&ldots; I &ldots; you&ldots;" Dani tried to explain, a rosy blush turning her cheeks pink as she grew more flustered.

Matt kissed her lightly on the tip of her nose. "I've got news for you. As much as I would love to make love to you, when it's meant to happen, it will. Until then, I'll just have to suffer cold showers," he offered, although his heated look belied his casual words.

Dani could only look up at him in amazement. Never in her life would she have expected him to understand as completely as he had, and the words from one of the songs in Cinderella came to her mind, 'Are you the sweet invention of a lover's dream, or are you really as wonderful as you seem?' "You're amazing, Mr. Tanner. Did you know that?" Dani asked, placing her hand against the center of his chest and finding comfort in the steady beat of his heart against her palm.

Matt covered her hand with his own, sent her a lopsided smile and offered huskily, "I have my moments."

"You certainly do!" she agreed whole heartedly and felt her heart melt at his kindness.

Matt watched her eyes go soft and hazy and despite his urge to kiss her crazy, tugged on her hand and suggested, "Come on Darlin', we're going skating."

They weren't the first ones on the ice, nor were they the last ones.

And by the time the clock struck three o'clock, all the Rocmanov's were on the ice, including their longtime coaches, and all talk of retirement was pushed aside as they welcomed the dawn of Christmas morning doing what they loved most of all.

Skating!

Chapter 26

The day after Christmas, Sergei stumbled into the kitchen at nine thirty in the morning, pleading for coffee. The smell of bacon being nuked and pancakes hot on the grill suddenly had him turning a little green.

Dani cast a curious look at her brother, as she set the steaming cup of coffee in front of him on the table, before turning back to help her mother fix breakfast. "Bad night?"

Sergei groaned and took a sip of coffee. "I felt fine last night, but I woke up this morning feeling a bit nauseous."

Jordan simply smiled to herself.

"How's Chloe?" Dani asked, expertly flipping pancakes to cook on their other side.

Sergei watched his sister flip the pancakes and closed his eyes, a look of disgust on his face, and tried to think of anything but food. He couldn't imagine what he had eaten; that everyone else hadn't eaten too, that might have upset his stomach this way. "Actually, she's feeling pretty decent for the first time in a few days. As far as I know, she hasn't thrown up today. Of course it's early yet," he added tiredly.

At that moment, the subject of their questions entered the kitchen, looking bright and cheerful and positively glowing. Already dressed in her skating clothes, and skating bag in hand, she set the bag next to the back door and came around the table to give her new husband a good morning kiss. "Hi, cutie," she murmured sexily, cupping his face in her hands and bending over to give him a sweet kiss, only to find him pale, and glassy eyed. "What's wrong?"

"He doesn't feel well," Dani answered for him.

"He's probably having sympathy morning sickness," Jordan suggested.

Sergei's eyes widened in disbelief. "No way. I am not having that. I ate something yesterday that disagreed with me and I'm sick, that's all. It's not morning sickness!" he declared firmly.

"I've heard about that. In fact, my doctor even mentioned the possibility of that happening," Chloe added, looking at Sergei and giving him an encouraging. "He said it happens more frequently than people think."

"I am not having morning sickness!" Sergei repeated; closing his eyes as the room seemed to suddenly spin and his stomach did a double flip. Surely this was nothing more than a case of the flu.

"Get him some crackers," Jordan offered with a smile, barely able to control the desire to chuckle over her son's dilemma. Not that it was funny. But it was; sort of. Jordan was almost positive her son was simply suffering sympathetic morning sickness. Aleksei had suffered the same thing through both her pregnancies, and he and Sergei were so alike it was frightening. Two marvelous men cut from the same cloth.

Jordan took over flipping pancakes, while Dani hunted through the pantry in search of crackers. "How many boxes of crackers have we been through in the last few weeks?" Dani asked, as she moved boxes around before she finally found the box of saltines.

"I'd rather not think about it!" Chloe stated quietly, sending Sergei a look of commiseration and catching the box Dani tossed her way. "Thank you," she said and removed a small stack of crackers from the box and placed them before Sergei. "Here, baby, eat these; you'll feel better," she suggested, running her fingers through his thick waves.

The look Sergei sent her was filled with skepticism. He couldn't believe that something as simple as a cracker was going to ease the nausea the swirled in his stomach.

"I'm telling you, the crackers are going to help," Chloe stated encouragingly, giving him a kiss on the cheek and holding up a cracker for him.

Sergei just looked at it as if it was the most obnoxious thing on the planet.

"Just try it. It can't make you feel any worse."

Sergei's expression grew horrified as he contemplated the possibility of feeling any worse than he did. That simply wasn't possible!

"What can't make who feel any worse?" Aleksei asked, having heard Chloe's comment as he came into the kitchen.

"Sergei's having sympathy morning sickness. Chloe's trying to feed him crackers," Dani offered helpfully, only to be speared by her brother's dark look.

Aleksei's eyebrow lifted in consideration of Dani's words and he sent his wife a knowing look. He remembered those days too well and definitely commiserated with his son. He'd been the butt of many a joke when word had gotten around that he was suffering from sympathetic morning sickness while Jordan was pregnant and had spent more time puking than his wife had. It had been a definite shot to his masculinity to find himself hugging toilets in the morning and carrying crackers in his coat pockets.

Now, looking at his slightly-green son, he could only say, "Hang tight, son. With any luck, it won't last any longer than the first trimester."

Sergei's groan of disbelief and discomfort said his father's encouraging words hadn't been encouraging at all, and figuring things had to get better soon, slowly chewed on another cracker.

Five minutes later, when everyone sat down around him, with plates of bacon and pancakes, he found himself choking out a hasty, "Excuse me," and with his hand covering his mouth, dashed from the table, nearly mowing over Whittaker as he wandered into the kitchen.

"What the hell was that all about?" Whittaker bellowed, casting Sergei a scowl and then turning his attention to the group of people eating and struggling to keep their laughter at bay.

"Sergei's suffering from sympathetic morning sickness," Dani offered between bites of her pancake.

Whittaker rolled his eyes in disbelief. "Oh Christ, not again!" he complained, and spearing Aleksei with a look filled frustration, clearly stated, "I will not be cleaning up the ice after him. I was stupid enough to do it for you, but, if nothing else, I've gotten smarter in my old age and I will not be cleaning up the ice after another Rocmanov has puked all over it!"

Jordan couldn't hold back her laughter anymore, and one look at her husband's aghast expression, clearly pushed her over the edge.

Stunned at Whittaker's words, Dani sat, with her fork mid-air, and sent her father a look filled with disbelief. "You got that sick?"

Aleksei sent Whittaker a dark look and returned his attention to his breakfast. "A couple of times," he mumbled quietly.

Jordan's snort of disagreement said otherwise.

Aleksei looked at his wife, looking for support, and found a look of challenge in her eyes instead. "Fine, maybe I was sick a bit more than a few times," he allowed.

Jordan sighed, the sound woeful and filled with exasperation, and looked pointedly at her husband. "We practiced our spins only once a day for weeks, and during competitions he was taking Dramamine to try to keep from being sick on the ice. Sometimes it worked; sometimes it didn't. For a while, he wasn't allowed to eat anything for several hours before we skated in the hopes if he had had nothing in his stomach, there wouldn't be anything to&ldots;" Jordan's waving hand finished her statement.

"Which simply meant, I got the dry heaves instead," Aleksei interrupted with a low laugh. At the time it sure hadn't been funny, but now it was easier to laugh at. "There were a couple of times I swear they rigged the skating order so we skated last," he added, popping a piece of bacon into his mouth.

"I can't imagine why a skater would object to skating on ice that someone had just puked all over. Jeez, what a bunch of wimps!" Dani offered sardonically.

Laughter filled the room, and everyone finished up their breakfasts, enjoying each other's company and the fact that at least Chloe was feeling better. And, if nothing else, the morning sickness that Chloe had suffered through had only occurred in the morning. Unlike others who battled it often all day, every day, at least she had been fairly certain the overwhelming nausea would be gone by lunch-time.

They could only hope Sergei would follow suit.

When Sergei re-entered the kitchen, all eyes turned to him. Looking not quite so green, and standing a bit straighter, he sent his wife a smile and jaunty wink and asked his coach, "So, what's on the agenda today?"

"Spins! Lots and lots of spins!" Whittaker bellowed, laughing hysterically as he watched Sergei's face drop in disbelief, and the younger man suddenly turn and make another mad dash for the bathroom.

"You are so bad," Aleksei stated flatly, finally unable to stop the laughter that refused to be harnessed.

Whittaker nonchalantly shrugged his shoulders. "So the sins of the father are revisited on the son. Pay-back's a bitch sometimes, Rocmanov!"

* * * * *

With Sergei's stomach so unpredictable, Dani bumped her training schedule up a notch and added another two hours a day on the ice in the mornings of the days preceding New Years Eve. The added time seemed to make her want to be on the ice even more, and with renewed vigor and determination, she set her mind toward one thing - winning.

Chloe watched her sister in law finish her morning workout as she put on her skates, and prepared for her own practice, sans her husband, at least initially. Despite being only a few weeks pregnant, she could already feel the changes in her body. Thankfully her morning sickness seemed to have shifted to her husband, but her center of balance had shifted slightly, so she was going to spend this time working on adjusting to the difference and hope it didn't change drastically in the remaining weeks before the Olympics.

"I want to run through my long program one last time, Frank," Dani yelled across the expanse of ice, her face flushed, her breathing a bit labored.

"It's nearly perfect now, and we've got plenty of time yet, Dani. Leave it alone," Frank countered.

"There are still a couple of sections I'm not comfortable with yet!" Dani argued, circling the ice to keep her muscles warm.

"They'll hold until next time when you can work on getting comfortable with everything. In the meantime, get your ass off the ice!" her coach yelled.

"Dammit Frank!" Dani complained, and sent him a heated glare. "I'm not going to be ready!"

Chloe's bright laugh reached her across the ice, and she turned her attention to her sister in law as she stepped onto the ice. "Dani, you're nuts. The program looks amazing; it's more than ready to be presented, and if there's a section you're uncomfortable with, I can't tell where it is," Chloe stated truthfully.

"You're just saying that," Dani pouted.

Chloe sent her a look of disbelief. "I have never lied to you about your skating. Why would I start doing it now?" she asked quietly.

Dani looked chagrined and apologized for her behavior.

Chloe smiled, easily accepting the apology, and gave Dani's hand a reassuring hug. "Skate with me while I warm up," she suggested.

Dani agreed with a small nod.

In easy camaraderie, the two circled the ice; Chloe warming her muscles up slowly and Dani letting hers slowly cool down. "How's Sergei doing?" Dani asked casually, shaking her head in humor as she thought about her brother's sympathetic reaction to his wife's pregnancy. Leave it to Sergei to want to share it with her.

"Doing better. He mostly just feels really cruddy in the morning for a couple of hours a day. With any luck, by the time we actually have to skate at the Olympics, we shouldn't have to worry about him throwing up on the ice," Chloe offered with a light laugh and merrily twinkling blue eyes.

  "How are you feeling?" Dani asked her dearest friend, continuing to match her stride for stride as they silently circled the ice.

"Terrific! Much better since I don't have the nausea to deal with. You know; it's so odd, but as soon as Sergei started feeling sick, I felt better. Is that weird or what?" she asked with a little frown.

"Leave it to you two to share everything!" Dani teased.

Chloe just smiled in silent agreement, and then asked, "I take it Matt's holiday visit with his family is going well?"

Chloe's bright laughter filled the cool air. "When I talked to him last night, he asked me to remind him how much fun he had on this visit the next time he thought about heading home for the holidays. He said his Mama is usually very calm, but this year she's either thrilled to have her family around her, gearing up for an anxiety attack or falling apart into tears. Needless to say, everyone is spending their days walking on eggshells around her."

"The holidays are a stressful time; especially when you're the one playing the head elf!" Chloe offered.

"Welcome to motherhood!" Dani countered, her gaze directed toward Chloe's still flat tummy.

Chloe laughed, patted her tummy and said, "I can't wait!"

"I'll remind you of that in twenty years when you're doing a family Christmas, surrounded by pandemonium and ready to find a closet to hide in!" Dani countered with a wide smile.

"It's a deal," Chloe readily agreed with a wide smile.

In peaceful camaraderie, the two circled the ice yet again before Chloe's couldn't hold back her question anymore. "So, is Matt going to be back in time for New Year's Eve?"

It was no secret that Dani had spent the last four days missing Matt. It wasn't so much what she said, but what she didn't say. As each day went by, she became more and more subdued, and the fact she was spending more and more time on the ice, made it clear to all she was doing her best to keep herself so exhausted she didn't have time to think about how much she missed him.

"He's going to give it his best shot," Dani answered flatly.

Chloe sent her a sidelong glance. "You don't think he'll make it?"

"He's flying stand-by on New Year's Eve, and they're calling for more snow. What do you think his chances will be of getting here before the first of January?"

"I think he's a man who will do everything in his power not to disappoint you," she stated knowingly.

"He's not superman," Dani argued.

"No, but he's the next best thing as far as you're concerned," Chloe quipped.

Dani frowned. Were her feelings that obvious to everyone? "You talk to much, Mrs. Rocmanov!" Dani complained.

"And these days you're talking too little," Chloe countered, sending her another knowing look.

Dani simply stuck her tongue out at her sister-in-law, but was spared any need to respond further when Whittaker's demanding bellow instructed her to get her butt off the ice and let Chloe get to work.

"We'll take this up later," Chloe yelled after Dani's retreating back.

"I'll be busy," Dani countered.

"Doing what?"

"Whatever needs to be done that will keep you from continuing this conversation."

"Dani!"

"Skate, Chloe. We're down to literally weeks!" Dani yelled, slipping her skate guards onto her blades, and heading for the doors.

Grumbling to herself at her sister-in-laws stubborn streak, she shook her head in frustration. There had to be something she could do to cheer Dani up. She, herself, was filled with so much joy and happiness; she wanted everyone around her feeling the same way. Now, if she could only figure out a way to see it done.

Whittaker bellowing, yet again, had her pushing any plans aside, and listening to her coach's directions as she began her practice.

An hour later, when Sergei joined her on the ice, she happily reported she had once again found her center and when the pair practiced their side by side spins, it was just like the old days; pure perfection!

* * * * *

Dani sat on the leather couch in the family room, covered with a fleece throw, her legs curled up beneath her, flipping through TV channels, when Chloe and Sergei entered the room. With raised eyebrows, Dani took in Chloe's little black dress, that showed a whole lot of leg and even more of her expanding bustline and sent her brother a questioning look. "You're letting your pregnant wife wear that out in public?"

Sergei, attired in a black silk suit, that emphasized his wide shoulders, cast an appreciative glance over his wife's still-slim figure, and her newly-full bust and smiled wolfishly. "Unlike you, I appreciate the look. Besides, others may look, but the lady's coming home with me!"

"Typical male thinking," Dani grumbled, clicking her way through the channels and with a disgusted sound, clicked off the TV and tossed the remote onto the coffee table. "Why is there nothing worth watching on TV today?" she growled.

Chloe sat down on the couch beside Dani. "Because it's New Year's Eve and most people are celebrating that fact ways that don't involve watching a TV. And since there is nothing on TV, why don't you come with us tonight?"

Dani sent her a look of disbelief. "Just what I want to do, be a third wheel! Besides, Matt said if he wasn't here by noon, he would call tonight. Since it's obviously way after noon, I think it's safe to say he's not going to make it until tomorrow. If I can't see him tonight, at least I can wish him a Happy New Year over the phone."

"Wouldn't you rather bring the New Year in with your hockey friends? They're all going to be at the party and if you can't have Matt, at least you can have his teammates." Sergei asked flippantly, ignoring her scathing look.

"Don't pester her, Sergei. If Dani wants to stay in and sleep through New Year's Eve, it's her business. We've offered to take her to the party. If she doesn't want to go, she doesn't want to go," Chloe offered with a minute shrug of her elegant shoulders.

Dani narrowed her eyes at the two. It didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that they were trying to get her to join them at the party in the hopes of getting her mind off the fact her prediction about Matt not making it back in time for New Year's Eve had come to pass. She couldn't fault the two for trying to cheer her up, but then, she wasn't really in the mood for a party. "What are you two up to?"

Wearing faces with expressions entirely too innocent, Sergei and Chloe looked at each other and Chloe murmured, "Up to? We're not up to anything. We're going to a party and asked if you wanted to come along."

Dani's eyebrow lifted questioningly at the pair. Clearly she didn't trust their explanation.

"That's it!" Sergei swore, holding his hands up, as if to say, See? Nothing up my sleeve!

"We just thought you might like to take a night off of pouting and moping and wandering around the house like a lost ghost!" Chloe quipped, ignoring the dark look Dani sent her way.

"I haven't been pouting or moping, I've been focusing on my training," Dani stated, her lower lip puffed out in a pout. "You know the Olympics are only a few weeks away," she reminded them needlessly.

"Yeah, yeah. We remember - vaguely," Sergei growled in return. "However, unlike some - who will remain nameless - several of the members of the Olympic team, and their friends, have decided to set aside that little detail for this evening and fully intend to enjoy a little time with each other. Who knows? We might actually manage to stay awake to see the New Year in!" he added with a chuckle.

"I wasn't planning on going to bed before midnight!" Dani countered defensively.

Sergei rolled his eyes, his expression clearly stated he didn't believe she'd make it.

"I can stay awake until midnight!" Dani argued.

"Prove it!" Sergei dared her.

"Come with us and spend some time with friends instead of sitting here scowling at the TV, wearing out the remote, and worrying about Matt. I'm certain he's fine," Chloe offered, sending her friend a hopeful look.

Dani returned Chloe's steady gaze and tried to think of a good excuse to skip the party. Everything she'd said before had been true; Matt was due to call her, but then she hadn't heard anything from him yet. After initially worrying that something horrible had befallen him, she cast that thought aside and decided he was probably stuck in the airport in a spot where his cellular phone wouldn't work; she'd run into the same problem herself. Then, of course, it was easy enough to forget to charge the battery and then you were stuck with a dead phone. Regardless of why he hadn't called her, she knew waiting wasn't going to make his call come any sooner, and it was already promising to be a very long, lonely night. Maybe going to the party, for just a little while, wouldn't be too horrible. And as Sergei said, Matt's teammates would be at the party; maybe they would have heard something from him. Chewing on her lower lip and considering her options, Dani finally nodded in agreement. "I suppose I could leave a message on Matt's cell phone letting him know where I am and to call my cell phone if he gets the chance," Dani offered hesitantly, her smile growing as she watched her brother and Chloe nod vigorously in agreement. "Fine, I'll go, but I'm not promising to spend the whole night there," she agreed firmly.

"Great!" Chloe stated in excitement, and sent Sergei a mischievous glance. "Let's go get you dressed then," she suggested, pulling her friend to her feet and pushing her toward the door.

"Ladies, can we get it together in under twenty minutes?" Sergei called after their retreating backs, shaking his head as he realized how stupid his question was.

With a dramatic sigh, Sergei plopped down onto the couch his sister had vacated, snatched up the remote and began flipping through channels. It didn't take him long to find something he deemed worthwhile watching. He might have to wait for them, but he didn't have to be bored while he did it!

* * * * *

Forty-five minutes later, Chloe and Dani laughed their way back into the room, and found Sergei involved watching one of hundreds of college bowl games that seemed to spread out over a period of several months. "Let me guess, this is the 'Home Improvement: Let Me Show You How to Grout Your Bathroom' bowl game?" Dani asked sarcastically, sitting down on the arm of the couch next to Sergei. The skirt of her black dress slid high up her shapely thighs and came dangerously close to ending the question of what color panties she had on. Sheer black stockings caressed her legs and he wondered briefly how her strappy black sandals managed to stay on her feet; surely they were a puzzle to get all those straps criss-crossed properly. His gaze traveling upward, Sergei raised imperious eyebrows as he got a look at the top of her dress that left her shoulders bare and a whole lot of her upper chest displayed. "You're complaining about Chloe's top? Take a look at your own; you're showing a whole lot more than she is!"

"I have more than she does to begin with!" Dani countered saucily, smoothing an imaginary wrinkle from the velour dress that clung like a second skin.

"Good thing Whittaker gave us the day off tomorrow. After an hour in those shoes, you won't be walking tomorrow," he forecast, returning his attention to her feet. He didn't want to even think about the attention she would be getting wearing that scrap of fabric, and calling it a dress.

Dani stretched out her leg, admiring her shoes and silently agreed with her brother. In all likelihood, her feet would be screaming in an hour, but until then, she was going to enjoy them. "You're probably right. But aren't they gorgeous?"

"Yeah, yeah, they're amazing. I wish they came in my size," her brother agreed in a bored tone, flipped off the TV and set the remote on the table. "Now, if we're all ready, can we get out of here?"

"He's so unappreciative. We get all dressed up for them and they don't even appreciate the effort we put forth!" Chloe teased, smiling at the air kiss Sergei sent her before he went to collect their coats from the hall closet.

"Not true," Sergei argued, holding Chloe's coat for her as she slipped her arms into the sleeves and kissing her behind her ear. "I appreciate you dressing up for me; I just appreciate the undressing part more," he murmured wickedly, sending his wife a lecherous look.

Dani rolled her eyes. "Oh, please! Aren't you tired of attacking each other yet?"

Both Sergei and Chloe answered simultaneously with a resounding, "No!" and shared a kiss.

Dani shook her head in exasperation. "You two are worse than rabbits! Come on," she stated, tugging her coat out of her brother's hands and slipping it on by herself. "If we don't get out of here now, you two are going to disappear upstairs and I'll be stuck watching the 'Grout Bowl'!" she stated disgustedly, leading the way from the family room, toward the garage.

For two minutes, Dani stood beside the door in the kitchen that led to the garage, waiting for Sergei and Chloe. When they finally arrived, both looked flushed and a little dazed. "Was it good for you?" Dani purred breathlessly, as Sergei held the door open for the girls and Chloe slipped into the garage first.

"Oh, shut up, brat!" Sergei growled, wishing he and his wife were headed toward their bedroom instead of to the New Year's party they'd managed to talk Dani into attending. The more he thought about it, the more he wished they were seeing the New Year in tucked in bed instead of at a party!

Then again, there was nothing saying they had to stay until midnight!

* * * * *

The party was in full swing by the time the threesome arrived, and shouts of greeting and welcome were yelled as the entered the banquet room at the same hotel where only a few months before her parent's Gala had been held. Dani shook her head in amazement as she thought about all that had transpired in such a short time. Sometimes it felt as if she'd slipped into a time warp and everything had happened years before. Other times, it felt as if it had happened only yesterday. This moment, it felt as if Matt had been gone for months instead of just a few days and her heart ached at the thought. As she looked around here, taking in the festive decorations, she also noticed that almost all of the people at the party were paired up with their others and it looked as if she might be spending the evening as a third wheel after all.

"Terrific! I should have stayed home and watched the grout bowl!" she mumbled to herself, allowing Sergei to help her off with her coat and then hand all three of their coats over to be checked.

"Don't be a party-pooper, Dani. You're going to have a great time. I promise!" Chloe stated, taking her arm and steering her into the crowd.

With Sergei following, they headed into the foray, pulsing music, laughter, and calls of welcome filling the air around them. Immediately they were swallowed up by the crowd, welcomed into the midst of revelry and celebration and Dani found herself enjoying the party before she realized it. Surrounded by friends, who were determined to have a good time tonight and worry about tomorrow - tomorrow - Dani found their attitudes contagious and pushed aside her worries for the night and concentrated on simply having fun.

After all, this was New Year's Eve; a moment in time filled with potential and possibility. A time when anything was possible and magic danced in the air.

* * * * *

Two hours later, Dani sank breathlessly into one of the soft, cushy chairs that were placed around the perimeter of the dance floor and watched the other people dance as she took a break, and did her best to ignore her screaming feet. Sergei was right; she wasn't going to be able to walk tomorrow. But tonight, her legs looked amazing in her strappy shoes!

With a grateful smile and a 'thank you' that was whisked away on the pounding music, she accepted the glass of iced tea she'd ordered from the cocktail waitress, slowly sipped at it and watched the party go on around her.

"Don't tell me you've given up dancing for the night?" a voice asked from over her left shoulder.

Dani tipped her head back, and found herself looking at Matt's teammate, Bob, albeit it upside down. "Just resting my tired feet," she offered with a painful smile.

Bob took the seat beside her, took a sip of his own drink and nodded toward her legs. "You could always take your shoes off," he suggested, his gaze traveling up the length of her shapely legs.

Dani's light laugh filled the air. "I'd never get them back on! One thing a girls knows, is once your feet have swollen up, never - and I do mean never - take your shoes off, or you'll be walking home barefoot!"

Bob shook his head, obviously baffled. "Then why wear shoes like that," he nodded toward her feet, "when you know you're going to wind up suffering?"

Dani patted his forearm consolingly. "We do it for you guys," she teased.

"For us guys?" Now he was completely confused.

Dani rolled her eyes. "Do you, or do you not, appreciate a lovely pair of legs on a lady?"

Bob looked at her as if she'd lost her mind. Her question had to be one of the silliest he'd ever heard. Generally speaking, what man didn't enjoy looking at a shapely set of ladies legs? "Very much," he finally answered, more than a bit cautiously, wondering if he hadn't exactly understood her correctly.

"Would you rather see them in a pair of high heels and silk stockings, or combat boots and wool socks?"

Bob's mind went blank. If this wasn't a loaded question, then he'd never heard one, and he began to feel as if he had surely entered the twilight zone and wasn't quite sure how to get out of it. He'd seen his girlfriend's legs in both heels and boots, and depending on his mood, had enjoyed both. "Is this a trick question?" He was saved from any other questions by his cellular phone ringing in his pocket, and a quick glance at his caller ID had a small smile curving his lips. "Yo!"

"It's time."

"Okey-dokey," Bob agreed and clicked his phone shut. Turning to Dani, he quickly excused himself, and bolted through the crowd as if he'd suddenly learned his house was on fire.

Dani's expression was still confused when her own phone began to ring and she pulled it from the small purse she'd tucked between her hip and the chair. Flipping it open, her expression grew puzzled when she noticed the call wasn't identified by anything other than 'Private', and her voice was tentative as she quietly said, "Hello?"

"How's the party, Darlin'?" Matt's voice asked her over the phone.

Dani's face bloomed as her smile exploded at the sound of his voice. "Not as much fun as if you were here," she stated truthfully.

"I'm trying to get to you. But you know how it is on New Year's Eve. Even the people who don't like to party, party on New Year's Eve. You'd think they could find something else to do and let us folks who really know how to play get it done!"

Dani could only laugh at his statement. "How was your trip home? Was your Mother happy to see you?"

"Mama's mama. It's nice to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there," he stated with his own deep laugh. Family reunions often weren't all they were cracked up to be!

"I'm glad you're on your way back. I've missed you," Dani murmured into the phone, her fingertips tingling where she held the phone, as if she could feel his touch through the connection.

"I'll be there before you know it, Darlin', and we'll see the New Year in properly," he stated firmly.

"Don't go killing yourself to get to me. I'd rather have you in one piece than not at all. Tomorrow will be soon enough," Dani countered, closing her eyes and wishing she could touch him; hold him.

"Sorry, Darlin', but it won't be nearly soon enough," he whispered huskily into her ear from behind her, his warm breath caressing her bare shoulder before he placed a kiss against her neck, and breathed deeply of the extraordinary scent that was only hers.

Dani's body tingled from head to toe and her eyes flew open. Certain she was imagining things, she turned in the chair and found herself nearly nose to nose with Matt, now on his knees behind her chair. "You're here," she whispered breathlessly, her eyes touching on every part of him she could see. God he looked gorgeous in black!

"I told you I wouldn't miss spending New Year's Eve with you," he murmured quietly, his hands coming up to hold her face.

"You also told me you were stuck at the airport!" she countered with a lift of one eyebrow.

"I was - before. Your father arranged to have a private jet pick me up and get me back here. He mumbled something about you 'mopin' about' and hoped I could do something about it."

"Daddy did that?"

Matt simply nodded, a huge smile on his face. "I guess he's decided I'm not the cad he thought I was after all."

"I can't believe he did that," Dani murmured in amazement.

"Does it really surprise you? Your father and I have something in common; we're both interested in seeing you happy."

"Well, you accomplished that!" Dani murmured softly, tears of joy glistening in her green eyes as she memorized every feature of his handsome face.

"Glad to hear it," he countered huskily in return, his blood beginning to boil in his veins as his need for her grew. He was still amazed how his body called out to hers so readily, never satisfied; ever wanting. A quick glance toward the dance floor had him asking, "Might I interest you in a dance before this year is over?"

"Not until I get a kiss!"

It took every ounce of willpower Matt owned not to pull her into his arms and make love to her on the little chair in front of everyone. She looked like a rich dessert just waiting to be gobbled up and he wondered how he would survive the next few of hours holding her in his arms, looking as she did, and not succumb to the desires that ran rampantly through his body. Instead, the kiss they shared was filled with tender welcome and simply lit a fire deep within them that simmered softly, but they knew would build as the clock pushed its way toward the New Year.

When Matt pulled away from her, she gazed at him with eyes the color of a deep forest and filled with so much need, he thought about simply scooping her into his arms and finding an empty closet to be alone with her in. But that possibility didn't exist, so he came around to the front of her chair, pulled her to her feet and silently walked her to the dance floor.

His body called to hers as she slid into his arms, her body melding against his. Softness and strength forging as one, creating a force so strong, nothing could break it. Wrapped in each others embrace, they swayed to the romantic music, the world around them dissolving, leaving them alone and floating on the emotions they felt for each other.

Around them, people gave thumbs up signals and smiled as they watched the two.

"Thank you," Chloe murmured against her husband's cheek as they danced, her smile blooming as she watched Dani and Matt sway together.

Sergei looked down into his wife's glowing face. "For what?"

"For being the wonderful brother that you are. For knowing exactly what to say to get your stubborn sister moving and to this party so she could be as happy as we are tonight. For simply being amazing!"

"Yep, that's us; the amazing Rocmanov's!" Sergei chuckled, pulling his wife a little closer to his body, a serene smile curving his lips as he thought about how very perfect his world was, this very minute, with their unborn child resting safely between them as they danced, and everyone looking forward to the New Year.

For several moments Sergei and Chloe simply enjoyed the joy that filled the room, lost in each other's arms and pondering all the New Year would bring them.

It was a night filled with magic, and love and the renewed belief that if you wanted something badly enough, anything was possible!

* * * * *

Over the next hour, Dani and Matt danced every dance together, loathe to leave each other's arms for even a few moments to share a dance with another friend. Laughing and ignoring the teasing remarks from their friends, they talked about their time apart and how they'd missed each other; how time had slowed to a tormenting crawl that had felt like an eternity.

"I don't want to think about how horrible it's going to be when you leave early for the Olympics," Dani complained, wishing she'd never made the comment when Matt's eyes flashed at the comment.

"You could always come with me," he countered, pulling her a little closer to his body, and smiling as he felt the fullness of her breasts push against his chest, her heat radiate through his clothes.

Her eyes widened in pleasure at his words, but she knew it would be impossible. Her family, as a whole, would be leaving five days after Matt did. Arrangements were in place, training schedules set, ice reserved. "Thanks for the invite, but everything's already set," she replied with a little sigh.

"So un-set them," he countered huskily.

"You know that's impossible, as much as I might want to. Which, for the record, I do. It's just it's not only me it would involve but my whole family. Then there's Emily and her mother, Whittaker, Dee. I won't be selfish and ruin everyone else's trip. There's so much at stake here; so much that can go wrong."

Matt's broad shoulders lifted in a little shrug. "What can possibly go wrong? The Rocmanov's are looking to increase their gold intake, with any luck my teammates and I can manage to beat the Canadians on their own ice, and Miss Emily is going to watch history be made as the youngest Rocmanov fulfills a promise she made to a sick child. Sounds like a hell of a ride to me!" he offered with a wide smile.

"You forgot to mention my parent's are retiring from skating! Two decades after their Olympic win, they're going to be skate their final skate on Olympic ice!" Dani gave a delicate little shudder. "I still can't believe they're actually going to give it up," she murmured, shaking her head in disbelief.

"I have the feeling it may not be as easy for your father to give it up as he thinks. Once he's out there, skating with your mother, I think he may re-think this retirement thing."

"Oh, I hope so. I just can't imagine them giving it up. They're not old enough to give it up!"

"Like it or not, we're all getting older, Darlin'," Matt stated truthfully.

"Don't remind me," Dani groaned and grimaced as her feet complained a little louder.

"Oh yeah, you're only two days younger than dirt! Nice try, Dani, repeat that comment in fifty years and I might consider the possibility!" he teased.

"My feet feel like they're a hundred years old at the moment!"

Matt glanced down, smiled at her stylish shoes and the noticeable swelling and shook his head, gently scolding her for not saying something sooner. "How long have they been bothering you?"

"I don't know."

Matt's look said try again.

"Since before you got here," she mumbled quietly, then stopped him before he could chastise her. "I was more concerned with dancing with you than with thinking about my sore feet. It's not the first time I've had sore feet, you know?"

Matt could only shake his head at her, and without further preamble, scooped her into his arms, despite her protests, and carried her off the dance floor, mumbling about ridiculous shoes and people without any common sense.

Amid laughter, catcalls, cheers, and ribald suggestions, Matt carried her through the crowd, out of the small ballroom and through the lobby, and made his way toward the enclosed pool area, now mostly dark and completely deserted. Walking through the pool area, he found a secluded spot in the corner, behind the waterfall that sent water rushing over its rocks into the pool below, away from the windows and hidden from the main entrance. Carefully, he placed her on one of the lounge chairs, and gently removed her strappy sho