Here it is guys, the next chapter, but now we get to the surprises...and some crazy people, lol! This goes out to wiccan-gal, Violet Aiken, baby00333, sweetness328, and Moonlight19. Thank you guys so much for taking your valuable time to review, and especially Violet Aiken and wiccan-gal, I am so so so super happy that you are enjoying this. Okay, I'll stop blabbering now, on we go...

Edit - Now that they have restricted songs, I must put disclaimers w/ the copyright info on all of the chapters w/ songs, and pray that my account is not deleted. I am giving credit, but the songs are not coming out, they are too important to the story line.
- "In the Still of the Night" Written by Fred Parris
Performed by The Five Satins (C) prior to 1972

In the still of the night, I held you, held you tight

Cause I love, love you so, promise I'll never, let you go

In the still of the night

I remember, that night in May, the stars were bright above

I'll hope and I'll pray, to keep your precious love

Well, before the light, hold me again, with all of your might

In the still of the night

Baby twirled around her room, record player blaring, dancing on her toes and twirling with the invisible partner. Only, in her mind, he wasn't invisible. She saw his lips, curved upwards in a smile, his nose, nostrils flaring with intense breathing, his eyes, instructing her to turn, lifting her above her own expectations.

Flying around, she fell backwards on her bed, head spinning and heart pounding, breathless. He would be here tonight, and maybe he would dance with her again. Maybe. Flattening her skirt down on her legs, she tucked her hands behind her head and smiled at the ceiling. She felt eighteen again, not the true twenty-seven years that had graced her life. Closing her eyes, Baby drifted off in a daydream.

She remembered that stage and those chairs. Studying the stones on the wall beside her, Baby thought of pulling a pen out of her mother's purse and scribbling something on the wall. No, that would be childish. Sighing so that her curly hair flew up her forehead, she once again turned her attention back to the flamboyant, yet hideous singing occurring on stage.

"Nobody puts Baby in a corner." That voice brought her from her thoughts. Her heart swelled in shock as much in love as she glanced up at its owner. Without a word, she got up and took his hand. She couldn't see anything else but him. Unfortunately, the next thing she knew, she was on stage. Her stomach began to knot. What was he doing!

"Sorry about the disruption folks, but I always do the last dance of the season. This year, someone told me not to, so I'm gonna do my kinda dancin' with a great partner, who's not only a terrific dancer, but somebody who's taught me that there are people willing to stand up for other people, no matter what it costs 'em. Somebody, who's taught me about the kinda person I wanna be, Ms. Frances Houseman."

Was he talking about her? Wait, where was he going? What was she doing?

Music began to pound through the speakers.

'Now I've had the time of my life, and I never felt this way before…'

He walked out to her, that look in his eyes. As he gestured towards her with his finger, she knew exactly what he wanted…

Abrupt knocking on her door surprised Baby out of her fantasy world. Shaking her head,she sat up on the bed and called out.

"Come in." The door opened a smidge, and Katie peeked in.

"Momma, your boyfriend is here." Johnny, Baby thought, smiling vividly. James glimpsed into the doorway.

"Well sweetheart, glad you're so happy to see me." Baby hid her embarrassment quickly by leaning over for a kiss. "You look ravishing. Shall we go outside to join the guests? It's seven fifteen, you know." Baby just took his arm and let him lead her.

Johnny stepped out of his old black car, the same one he had owned since he had worked at Kellerman's. He had repaired the window though. And he had thought about Baby when he had it repaired.

The Houseman's country home was splendid. The limestone walkway had to have cost a fortune, and he didn't even want to think about the marble stairs or solid oak doorway.

So this was what he could never have given her.

He looked down at his black dress pants and black collard shirt. Johnny grimaced. Baby hadn't told him the dress; he hoped to God that it wasn't too formal of an affair. He was also scared stiff at the prospect of seeing Jake Houseman again. But for Baby…well, there wasn't much he wouldn't do.

Walking through the yard to the back gate, Johnny waited in the line of guests being admitted. He gave his name as he reached the white panels of the fence. They reminded him of the walls inside the dance studio: thick and high. It took a minute or two, but after some protesting, his name was found scratched in pencil at the end of the list. Nodding curtly, Johnny walked in, his eyes scanning for Baby.

Billy captured him first.

"Johnny? Hey hey, cuz! What're you doin' here?" Johnny scowled.

"I saw Bab-Frances yesterday at the dance studio and she invited me. So, care to tell me about your little family here?" Billy blanched white.

"Hey, sorry, but I didn't think you'd approve. Besides, I knew how adamantly you were trying to stay away from her. Me being a part of the family wasn't gonna help you one bit." Johnny just nodded.

"So, where are my little cousins?" Billy smiled. He knew his cousin wasn't satisfied, but if Baby Houseman got a hold of him tonight, Billy wouldn't see him again.

"I'll go see if I can find Lis." Billy began to walk away, and then mentioned as if it were an afterthought, "I think I saw Francie over by the refreshment table earlier, near the dance floor." Billy winked and sauntered off. Johnny's gaze immediately turned to the dance floor, searching for her.

He spotted her. All of a sudden he couldn't move; just the sight of her took his breath away. She was standing, bobbing to the music in the same way that she had in the staff dance hall at Kellerman's that first night. Her face was shining as she searched the crowd for someone, and her curly hair fell across her forehead.

Her slim body was outlined perfectly in a pale yellow creation that came just to her knees. The sleeves were about two inches think and fell off of her shoulders, coming to rest on her lower arm and leaving the upper body bare. The fabric fell in flows across her legs, almost wrinkled, but falling gently, like a pale silk waterfall. Tapered at the waist, folds of fabric fell across her bosom, enhancing her chest and bringing Johnny's eyes much lower than they should have gone.

As Johnny returned to normal breathing state, he made his way towards her. He started around the dance floor, eyes constantly on her-- and stopped dead in his tracks. A man with blonde hair stepped up quickly and placed a kiss—on her lips. Baby looked at him and smiled, and Johnny could feel the jealousy rising in his throat. Unfortunately for him, Baby didn't seem to reject the man's advances.

He watched from the sidelines as the man whisked Baby out onto the dance floor and began to attempt a slow foxtrot. He wasn't very good. Stumbling over Baby's feet, Johnny watched as Baby laughed slightly and painfully while pushing the man off of the dance floor. He edged closer to hear their conversation.

"But Frances, I know you love to dance, and I wanted to share that with you. C'mon, you'll have to give me lessons." He attempted to pull her back towards the dance floor, but Baby shook her head firmly.

"Not tonight James, I told you, I have a friend coming that I have to watch out for. I can't spend all evening with you. And besides, teaching you to dance tonight…well, let's just say that I'm not as much of a teacher as Johnny was."

"Johnny, who's Johnny?" Baby's face blanched white as Johnny smiled with pride.

"Um, sweetie, I think that Ma is calling you over. See, over there." Baby placed a quick kiss on his lips.

"No, I wanna know, who's Johnny?" James was teasing now. Johnny decided that it was the opportune moment for an entrance. He stepped over.

"I'm Johnny." James looked up. He might have only been an inch shorter than the man standing before him, but at that moment James felt as large as an ant. "Frances' guest." Baby just gazed up at him. James noted the look in her eyes. He couldn't force her away from this man, but he would keep an eye on them all night.

"Alright, well, Francie, sweetheart, I'm going to chat with your father. I'll see you later tonight." Baby looked down, eyes glazed over.

"Mhmm." As James walked off, Johnny stared down at Baby.

"So, who was that guy?"

"Oh, just my boyfriend." Johnny felt as if she had pierced him through the heart.

"Baby, snap out of it," he said dully. Baby's eyes jumped to life, and her pride was badly scarred.

"It's Frances, Johnny." Johnny saw that he had made the wrong move.

"Well then, Frances, would you like to dance?" Baby gazed up, her eyes lighting eagerly once more as she smiled happily.

"You have no idea." Johnny's smile radiated back from her own as he began to take her into his arms. They had barely even touched hands when a gunshot echoed through the night air.