December

Davis Mansion

6:41 P.M.

I sat cross legged on the recliner, a Sudoku puzzle in one hand, and my hot chocolate mug in the other hand. Naru sat across from me, reading a book, yet again. Martin, Luella, Lin and Madoka slipped into the living room on their way out. Both of the men wore a tuxedo, and had a red rose pinned on. Luella wore a white sparkly dress, white earring hung from her ears, and strands of hair fell into her beautiful face. Madoka's pink dress stopped short at her knees, and gold dangled off of her eats and neck. Both of them looked magnificent. And both of them were pouting.

"Mai, Noll, are you guys sure you don't wasn't to go with us?" Madoka asked.

Both of us looked up to the grown ups, and I instantly flashed them a reassuring smile.

"We'll be fine." Naru spoke.

Madoka crinkled her nose, muttered something in English, and then sighed. She was still pouting that her and Luella's plans didn't work.

"Okay."

And with that, she and Lin left Martin and Luella.

"You know, Mai?" Luella sighed as she started in. "It's a real shame that you aren't wearing that lovely dress. If you guys have any second thoughts, the keys to the car are in our room, okay?"

Luella entered the room, and hugged me before kissing my forehead in a motherly fashion. She affectionately ruffled my hair, and went to Naru. She kissed his head, and spoke to him in English. He nodded, and she stalked out of the room.

"Have fun you two!" She called out after her.

8:39 P.M.

"So," I started again, for the umpteenth time. "How did your parents end up in England? Luella never told me the story."

I stuck a piece of Lin's fudge in my mouth, and closed my eyes. So rich. So moist. So chocolaty. How could he make such amazing fudge? The fire popped and cackled as it consumed the fresh fir wood.

Naru sighed and put his book down.

"Are you having second thoughts?" He snapped.

I frowned.

"Nope. I'm not good at dancing." I admitted.

He pinched the bridge of his nose, and closed his eyes before letting out another sigh of the night.

"Regular dancing, no. They ball room dance at these parties, Mai."

"Oh."

I looked down at my third cup of hot cocoa for the night. I sighed inwardly, and got up. Naru glanced up from his book, and frowned.

"Where are you going?" He asked.

"I'm going to my room. Why?"

A smirk played on his lips.

"I'm your babysitter for the night. As long as you don't do anything reckless, I guess you can go to your room."

I grew angry, and my hands curled into fists.

"Jerk." I muttered, and turned on my heel to go to my room.

I flopped down on my bed, and spotted the black and white dress in my closet. Luella. Maybe I should have gone after all.

'Nope.' I thought. 'By now I'd be in the hospital with a cast on my foot.'

But that dress. The damn dress. It stared back at me, as if to taunt me, challenge me, to put it on. I groaned, and rolled off of the bed, and approached the dress. I stared it down, before I made my decision. Giving in, I grabbed it, and slipped into my closet to change. Once I was in the dress, I realized the closest mirror was in the bathroom.

I slipped out of my closest, and poked my head out in the hall way. When I was sure the coast was clear, I bolted for the bathroom. The door was already open, and I slipped in with ease.

I glanced in the mirror, and quickly adjusted the dress to fit better. Then I got a really better view in the mirror. I pulled my hair up into a messy ponytail, and strands fell into my eyes.

"It's probably a good thing you aren't going tonight, Mai."

I jumped quickly, and turned to face Naru, standing in the door way, arms crossed, and his mysterious blue eyes watching me.

I blushed every shade of red known to man king.

"Naru! Ever heard of knocking?"

Something in his eyes flashed, and I stopped when I realized what he said.

"Wait,"

"Every bachelor out in England would want to dance with you tonight."

I stopped.

"Is that a compliment?"

"I wasn't done. If they danced with you, they'd have broken toes by the end of the first song."

I raised my fists in the air.

"You narcissist jerk!" I yelled.

"Get changed." He said quickly. "We're going on a walk. I don't want you to catch a cold."

He turned, and quickly walked away, probably going to his room. I made a quick escape to my room, and changed.

Naru met me at the door, my jacket in his hand. He was already dressed and ready for the cold. I took my jacket from him, and together, we stepped out into the cold wintry night.

There were light flakes of snow sprinkling the ground. I started walking towards the gates when Naru grabbed my arm. I stopped, and looked at him.

"Let's go to the lake."

I nodded, and he pulled his hand off of my arm. I fell into step with him as we walked through the garden, and went through the small gate.

I pulled my jacket closer to me as the wind blew relentlessly. There was a small path outlined by rocks.

"So, how exactly did you parents get invited to such a party?"

Naru stuck his hands in his pocket, and looked up to the sky.

"They solved cases for the Queen. They were on a case when Gene died. The Queen felt horrible, since they couldn't leave in the middle of the case. Mother befriended her."

Naru walked a few paces ahead of me. I looked down at my feet, and found the soft, fresh snow suddenly amusing. Then I hit something, and fell onto my rear.

"Ouch. Why did you stop?"

I looked up and saw Naru, rooted to the spot, un moving. I saw another pair of black clad legs a few feet in front of us. My view was blocked by Naru, and I shifted to get a better look. My eyes widened, and my jaw dropped. I slowly picked myself up off the ground, shocked.

It was the man in my dreams. The one that guided me to help out in the cases.

"Gene?"

Naru took a step forward towards his doppelganger, but I grabbed his arm.

"It's not him." I whispered softly.

The look alike took a step forwars, and held his arms out wide. Naru placed himself in front of me.

"Noll. Long time, no see." His gentle voice spoke tenderly. "Why don't you come here and greet me?"

Naru took another step forward, unsure.

"Naru,"

He whipped his head back towards me and glared. It wasn't an angry glare.

"Stay here, Mai."

I nodded my head slowly.

'No way in hell…'

"You're dead." Naru spoke with more confidence.

The Gene standing before us scoffed.

"I'm obviously not. I'm right here, brother."

Something flashed in Naru's eyes, and I could tell he was angry.

"Get out of here. My brother is dead."

The wind blew relentlessly, and the apparition of Gene was gone in a flash. Something picked up within the wind, and hit Naru, sending him flying. Something that we didn't expect. He landed on his side, and was un moving.

"Naru!" I yelled, and took a step forward.

"Stay back!"

He turned on his stomach, and began to push himself up, when a dark figure walked out of the cover of the trees, and advanced on him.

I stopped, and my heart skipped several beats. He didn't even give Naru a chance before he kicked him hard in the side. I gasped as Alex began to kick him relentlessly.

"STOP IT!" I yelled, and ran forward, ignoring Naru's words.

Alex turned, and smirked before he released another kick. I threw myself at Alex and pushed him out of the way to get to Naru. Tears filled my eyes as I clung to him.

"Come on Naru, get up." I begged as hands began to grab my arms to pull me away from a beaten Naru. "Please. NARU!"

Alex laughed, and turned me to face him. He grabbed my wrists, and held them tight in one hand.

"How?" I asked, shaking.

His face got closer to mine.

"He let his guard down long enough for me to slip in."

He planted a kiss on my lips. I tried to push away, wiggle free, but it was no use. I brought my knee up into his groin. He let go of me while groaning in pain, and I ran for it. But he recovered in no time, and his arms were wrapped around my waist.

"Let. Me. Go!" I yelled, and thrashed about.

I remember something hitting me, then utter darkness.

A/N: Well, I wanted to end this story differently, but because you guys wanted more, I decide to do this instead. This scene was fun to write. And guess what? I might have another week off again. But I'm sick of it. I'll send my snowstorm ya'lls way. You can have it! Anyways, I also decided to celebrate something. I have over 80 replies! I can't even find the words to describe how giddy I am! THANK YOU!!!

Love always and forever,

Jazzy