When they both stood at the entrance everyone stopped talking, the buzz of conversation stopped and Harry wished her father had never broken his hip. She loathed attention such as this. At first people seemed unsure of what to do and Harry glanced around nervously checking that nothing would repeat it self. Then a table on the far side stood and started to clap, the others soon followed and Dempsey holding Harry's elbow pushed her gently forwards into the main body. As they reached the dance area Dempsey looked at the band leader and the music started up.

He swung Harry around into him, placed one hand on her back and held her other hand "Foxtrot I think" Dempsey winked as he spoke

The tune sounded familiar Harry thought and she automatically followed Dempsey's moves whilst she tried to remember the song. There was a deep sense of gratitude invading her memories as well: In the early days of Dempsey meeting her friends Angela had insisted on giving Dempsey dancing lessons. Harry was certain it was purely based on Angela engineering as much close proximity to 'Jim' as possible and had always been surprised Dempsey hadn't dated her or any of her other friends.

Right now she was grateful for Dempsey's strong lead – she still couldn't' put her finger on the song; they moved – quick, quick, slow. The vocalist cut in

I have got you under my skin

Quick, quick she spun and turned back to face Dempsey

I've got you deep in the heart of me – his eyes were dancing over her face trying to read it. Harry stepped back closer to him and they moved to the left
"So deep in my heart
that you're really a part of me"
Dempsey very quietly sung along
Harry spun away and was searching his eyes the moment she rotated around far enough to catch them. Now he was smiling, she thought how handsome he looked and there was a hope that even she could notice flowing from his eyes.

I've got you under my skin
Harry smiled back, she was powerless to do anything else; there was a deep warmth radiating out from the very centre of her being. They both swept around, their feet moving together, quick, quick, quick

"Frank Sinatra" she finally declared "You asked them to play this?"

I tried so not to give in

"Nah" a sudden panic flooded Dempsey – the bloody dog thing again!

I've said to myself this affair

"Dempsey!" she admonished

It will never go so well

"You think I'd do that?" he was amazed how quickly pleasure could run away

So should I try to resist

"Dempsey they usually start with a waltz!" Harry demanded as she spun away from him

When baby I know damn well

As they came back together Harry just said "James!"

He spun her away again and was relieved to see her happiness still radiating as she returned to his hold

That I've got you under my skin
"You can't lie to me James Dempsey" she grinned impishly and Dempsey felt the floodgates of his heart open and another tidal wave of warm fuzz rushed out pushing the despair and fear well away.

They moved together: every time Harry turned back into James he looked beseechingly at her and Harry listened to the words of the song, considering each and everyone of them.
I would sacrifice anything
Come what might
For the sake of having you near
In spite of a warning voice
That comes in the night
It repeats, repeats in my ear
Dempsey watched Harry move, he loved the smile that was lighting her face, he loved dancing with her, and he loved being here for her. He caught her back into his hold again, quick, quick slow they moved across the dance floor. He noticed her look into his eyes and he grinned happily which had the immediate effect of widening Harry's smile even more.
Don't you know you fool
You never can win
Use your mentality
Wake up to reality

But each time I do
Just the thought of you
Makes me stop before I begin
The words that Harry had been listening to so carefully started to etch themselves into her mind and make a home in her heart.
'cause I've got you under my skin

Quick, quick, quick, quick, quick, quick, they moved from one side of the dance floor to the other, far too aware of each others gaze to care about anything else.

Her eyes shone, his face lit, they glided, stepped and swirled: Delight, pleasure, happiness, joy, bliss exuded beat by beat from Harry's heart.

The synchronised rise and fall and steps told Dempsey that were in tune with each other: slow, quick, quick, slow Harry twirled around just before the vocal returned allowing her to note the smitten look on Dempsey's face
You know I'd sacrifice anything
Come what might
For the sake of having you near
In spite of a warning voice
That comes in the night
And repeats, how it yells in my ear

Don't you know you fool
Ain't no chance to win
Why not use your mentality
Get up, wake up to reality

And each time that I do
Dempsey pulled her back into himself

Just the thought of you

but this time he held her tight against his chest
Makes me stop before I begin

and reduced his stride to very incredibly small steps

and turned her head slightly so he could sing directly into her ear
"because I've got you under my skin
And I like you under my skin"

Harry opened her eyes expecting to see her bedroom; it could only be a dream. To see so many people with eyes on her caused her to close them again – she hated to be the centre of anyone's gaze. As the music came to a stop she could feel James' hands on her shoulders, they slid down to her waist and she looked up at him uncertain of what to expect or what to do.

Dempsey looked nervously at Harry, he had been completely swept up in the moment and whilst he didn't regret it he was keen to know if this offering would be accepted or rejected.

It had been exactly 3 and a half minutes of heaven but Harry had no idea what to say; she averted her eyes before she spoke "We each need to invite others to dance now" she explained but before moved she squeezed Dempsey's hand hard and mercifully it gave him the reassurance he was looking for.

The dance floor had become much more crowded during the second song, both Harry and James brought people onto the dance floor and then returned to encourage even more dancers. Their eyes forever searched the other out and whenever they met they lifted their smiles higher. As the dance came to an end Harry whispered to Dempsey that 'the necessary was now over' and that she was going to speak to her father who was sitting in his wheelchair watching them with a smile on his face.