Authors notes: I appreciate all those who are reading this story and especially the ones that review and tell me their thoughts. I will be concentrating on this story now with the hope that I will finish it before Christmas. I hope you enjoy the chapter.

Nick gathers up his things, he's running late. The meeting with the board had ran long and put him behind with everything else he had to do that day. He looks at his watch, his plan was to leave an hour ago, he takes out his phone and calls Jenny on the way to his car.

"Hi Nick"

Nick notes she sounds a little stressed.

"Everything okay Jen?"

"Yes, yes, just getting ready?"

"I'm sorry, but, things ran long today and I'll be late picking you up, but I'll be there as quickly as I can."

Nick's surprised by Jenny's response.

"Oh Nick, thank goodness for that. I'm running late too, my hair won't behave and don't get me started on my make up. Everything's going wrong, I'm going to have to start all over again."

Jenny is looking at herself in the mirror with despair as she's talking to him. She wants so much to look good for Nick tonight, and to do that very expensive dress justice. At the moment it's hanging on her wardrobe door, mocking her.

"I'm sure it's not that bad..."

"As I look at myself, Medusa, is the word that come to mind, one look at me and you'll turn to stone."

Nick laughs

"Take all the time you need, as I intend to never take my eyes off you tonight."

With a two-hour grace, that Jenny hopes is enough time, she hangs up the phone. There's a knock a the door, she grabs a towel and wraps it around her head and with a wipe in her hand scrubbing at her make up, she goes to answer. The sight of Kara almost makes her collapse on the floor with relief, instead she wraps her arms around her friend, embracing her in a tight hug. Kara talks in to her ear.

"I take it that preparations are not going well."

Jenny steps back and removes the towel.

"Look!"

Kara surveys the damage.

"I told you the style was too complicated."

"It looked great an hour ago, but has fallen apart while I was putting my make up on..."

"Which you messed up at the sight of pins falling out and ringlets and backing combing producing a medusa look."

"That's just what I told Nick. Luckily he called to say he was running late so there's repair time."

"I'm here to help and with a better solution for your hair."

Kara waves a paper bag she's carrying.

"Let's get started."

Kara pushes past Jenny, who stares after her with relief.

"What would I do without you."

"Not have gorgeous boyfriend taking you to the hottest ball in town, where you'll be rubbing shoulders with the whose who of Pittsburgh."

Jenny holds her head in despair.

"Don't remind me Kara."

Kara smiles at her friend.

"Don't worry, by the time we're done you'll outshine them all, even that gorgeous boyfriend of yours."

Jenny laughs with relief.

"I didn't know you were a fairy godmother."

"Cinderella, you shall go to the ball. Now into the shower and wash that hair again."

Jenny makes a salute.

"Yes sir!"

As Nick puts on his shirt his mind goes back to last year and every other year that he's done the same thing. Then, his preparations were done with reluctance and dread at the evening ahead. He much prefers intimate dinner parties than huge balls in fancy rooms. He admits the music and food is always good, but the politicking and ego 'upmanship' is a bore. Then there's the Senator's wife, who always latches on to him, and it's a delicate manouvre to get away. The first year he hadn't realised what was going on until she propositioned him. The embarrassing scene that followed (at least embarrassing for him) didn't halt her intentions, but, at least now he manages to get away before it goes that far. When he told Jenny, she promised to hold on to him extra tight when the Senators wife comes looking for her man. This year is definitely different, he can't wait to walk in with her. He buttons up his jacket, he gives a quick glance in the mirror and looks at his watch. Time to go. He's out the door when he remembers the flowers and present for Jenny sitting on the table. He quickly goes back in and scoops them up.

Jenny steps into the dress and Kara helps her pull it up and fastens the zip at the back. She moves in front of Jenny and straightens everything up. She moves from in front of the mirror so Jenny can see herself. She looks over her shoulder.

"Beautiful, Cinderella."

Jenny is smoothing the dress and turning one side then the other, looking at all angles. The simple band Kara brought for her hair is holding it in place firmly and gives the effect of little stars glittering in her hair. She turns and gives her friend another hug.

"Careful, lets not mess everything up."

"What time is it.?"

"8:40"

A panic look crosses Jenny's face.

"He'll be here in five minutes."

"Jenny don't worry, you only have to put your shoes on and you look perfect. I'll make myself scarce, as one look at you and Nick might forget all about going to the ball, and I don't want to witness that."

"I've haven't gone to all this effort to not go out somewhere."

"That's my girl, hold strong."

Kara collects the remnants of her hair and make up rescue, kisses Jenny on the cheek and is out the door. Jenny is putting on her second shoe when the doorbell goes.