Rita and Michael had spent the afternoon together enjoying the city at its best during Indian summer. For all her happiness at having him there she knew there was more. Something was lurking at the edges, she could feel it emanating from him. He concentrated all conversation on her life. They discussed her job, family and friends. Books she had read… movies she had seen. But when she tried to steer the conversation to what had brought him to her now. He changed the subject. After the second rebuff she decided that she had best wait till he was ready to tell her. It seemed that he was waiting for something but she had no idea what. And part of it scared her. She felt she was standing on a precipice ready to take a free fall dive into the unknown. The only consolation was that he would never let anything happen to her. He would always catch her. The question was could she catch him. There was so little she knew about him. This was their life as it was and she had chosen it freely.

His hand trailed down her back. He tilted his head down closer to her ear. "Your friends have arrived." He whispered into her ear the soft puffs of breaths tickling her ear.

She had trouble thinking clearly when he held her this closely. "Oh good. We’ll go over and say hello after this song."

"Fine." His hand stopped moving. "I have something to ask you."

Rita almost stopped dancing. Here it comes she thought, another mission he needs help with. The other shoe is about to drop and then he is going to disappear. "What is it?" she said softly.

"I have to go away and I want you to come with me." Michael said as he pulled her closer.

Rita still danced but on automatic pilot. She had no idea what he meant. Did he mean for a vacation? "Did you finally get a vacation from your job? For how long?"

"I have left my job and there may be some repercussions for you." Michael said as regret filled his eyes.

"Are you saying I am in danger?" Rita asked quite calmly for her blood was beginning to race for reason other than dancing with this man.

"Not yet but it is possible you will be." Michael said simply. "That is why I want you with me."

Rita did not expect this at all and in a way she did not know what to say. He was asking her to live his gypsy lifestyle and put her life on the line. It was the last thing she was expecting. And she needed time to think and she could not think clearly with those verdant eyes staring into her soul. Impulsively she knew what her answer would be but she had to think it through.

"I need a little time to think, Michael. She said as she gently touched his cheek with palm.

Michael turned his lips into her palm and kissed it.

"Of course."

"Why don’t you get us some drinks I will meet you at the table later." She said as she parted from the heat of his body.

"Certainly." Michael turned on his heel and walked away.

She watched the crowd swallow him till she could no longer see him and her heart clenched in fear. What happen if he never came back? She walked straight through the dancers tears were clouding her eyes as she made her way to the bathroom.

Walking in she was taking in deep breaths, she made her way to an alcove where there were some plush chairs. She sank down into the cushions and soon they were cocooning her.

Curlly who had been watching the couple announced to the table. "Something is not right."

"What do you mean?" asked North.

"Rita has left the dance room not looking too happy." Curlly left the table and made her way to the bathroom. Followed by Sherry and Avillion.

"Hey everyone." DeLeah announced as she and Genie had finally arrived.

"Well, its about time you got here!" North exclaimed.

"So what took you so long?" Brenna asked.

"You would not believe the adventure we had on the way over here." Genie exclaimed.

"The taxi driver took us on an unexpected tour of New York." DeLeah said as she sat down.

"Now that must have been interesting." Brenna said.

"So where is everyone else?"

"They are around I am sure they will be back shortly." North got up. "I am going to go check on them."

"Ok North." Brenna said.

A handsome young man approached the table and asked Brenna if she would care to dance. Brenna said of course. Brenna was whisked away to the dance floor.

Meanwhile in the bathroom the girls were trying to get Rita to talk. Rita was sitting there wondering how she could possibly word this as to not betray Michael’s secrets yet still try to be honest.

"Honestly Rita you would think you were hiding a government secret now out with it." Sherry said bluntly.

"Michael wants me to quit my job and go travel with him." Rita blurted out finally.

"Well that is awfully romantic." Curlly said.

"It is but she would basically not have a home anymore at the rate Michael travels he doesn’t stay in the same place for long." Sherry commented.

Rita sighed, "I don’t know how long it would be until I saw you guys again or my family. It could be years."

"Well you married him." Avillion said. "I would go if he asked."

North walked in and saw the ladies in the corner. "What is going on?" North was quickly filled in. "Well you love him don’t you?"

"Of course." Rita said emphatically.

"You want to spend more time with him?" Sherry added as she straightened her skirt.

"Yes."

"Well, I don’t see the problem Rita consider it an adventure." Curlly added.

Rita pondered what her friends said and thought it may be an adventure she did not come back from. Yet he was worth it. She would not have to worry where he was and what he was doing anymore. She smiled at her friends.

Curlly laughed, "She’s going. Which means we can go back out to the dance. I had my eye on a certain individual to dance with."

"Wait. I hope you all know how much you guys mean to me. Thanks." Rita said as she stood up.

*******

Meanwhile Michael had made is way back to Rita’s table. "Good evening Ladies." He said as he sat down.

DeLeah and Genie stared at the gorgeous man slack jawed. They stared at him for what seemed like an eternity but it was merely seconds. Genie and DeLeah said in unison, "Hi."

He said nothing more. DeLeah decided to be brave. "Would you care to dance?"

He looked up in surprise. "Thank you for the lovely offer but no."

"Aww come on I promise I won’t step on your feet." She said winsomely.

Meanwhile on the dance floor Brenna saw what was happening. She was making hand gestures to Genie to try to warn her. But it was too late for she saw a splash of lavender out of the corner of her eyes. Brenna tried not to burst out laughing.

Rita arrived at the table followed closely by the others with the exception of Curlly who was dancing with a tall blond that had that surfer look about him. Smiling brightly at Michael she asked, "Would you like to dance forever?" Michael knew by her question that she had made up her mind. He had been concerned that she would let him go on alone.

"Rita get your own man." DeLeah commented jokingly. "I asked first."

"Hi DeLeah glad to see you could make it." She said never taking her eyes off of Michael, who had risen to his feet.

"I would love to." Michael said as he took her arm and lead her out to the dance floor.

"What is going on?" DeLeah asked.

The girls began to laugh. North said it between laughs, "That was Rita’s husband."

"What?!" Genie and DeLeah said in surprise.

"Where has she been hiding him?" DeLeah inquired.

A dark-haired man approached the table, "I thought it was you." He said to Sherry.

Sherry jumped up from the table as she moved to hug him. "Jarod! What are you doing here?"

"Helping a worthwhile cause. The last time I saw you was in Hawaii when we went to your friends wedding. Care to dance?"

"Of course." They moved to the dance floor to join in on the fun.

As the night went on everyone was on the dance floor. The stroke of midnight was approaching to the magical ball. Where there was one couple plotting their escape and various others making assignations for later on that evening.

All in all it was an unforgettable evening.

The End