Chapter Ten: The Ball

Young Ned was exactly 13 years 5 months 2 weeks 6 days 19 hours old when he went to his first dance, it was a rather unfortunate experience. Longborough School for Boys was having it's annual 13 up Spring Fling, the girls from it's sister school was also attending.

Ned was fine jumping up and down dancing like crazy with everyone else, he had a rare feeling of belonging, but when the slow dance came things started to go wrong. Everybody else had a partner, but Ned and a lone girl with greasy hair so they coupled up even though the only girl Ned wanted to dance with was Chuck.

When the music began Ned started to become stiff and clumsy. The first time he stepped on his partners foot she let it go, the second time she looked irritated, but the third time she screamed on the top of her lungs, "YOU ARE A HORRIBLE DANCER,YOU RAT!" and stormed off the floor.

That was the last time Ned danced, the thoughts of it swirled around his head as he walked onto the floor, the ring he planned to propose to Chuck with felt like it was on fire in his pocket. His gloved hand was is hers, he knew they would have to be careful, even though his entire body was covered, except for his face.

On the other side of the floor Nathan and Vivian were starting to dance, it turned out that Ned had inherited his horrible dancing.

"Sorry," Nathan blushed. "I haven't danced in years, plus I don't think I have much raw talent any how."

"Don't worry," Vivian smiled. " I can lead, swimming isn't that far off from dancing."

In the middle of the dance floor Maggie was trying to convince Maurice to dance.

"Come on," she nagged. "You can't go to a ball and not dance!"

"I can't dance, when it comes to magic I can do loads, but dancing, it's a whole other kind of magic."

"You can do magic?" Maggie smiled. "Come on I don't care how bad you are at dancing." She grabbed his arm and pulled him close to her. "I don't care what everybody thinks. You can dance as bad as you want."

The Piemaker and Chuck were now dancing to, carefully and slowly, but still dancing. It felt so much more real than dancing in beekeeper suits. Chuck looked up into the Piemaker's blue eyes and smiled.

"I love you so much."

"I love you too," Ned smiled awkwardly. "Uh, do you uh, want to go to the garden, it's kinda hot in hear"

"Sure." Chuck grabbed his hand and they walked out to the garden together.

Well Maggie and Maurice still were dancing like idiots. Vivian and Nathan were taking a break.

"Would you like to get some wine or punch?" Nathan asked.

"I would prefer the latter. Lily is a bit addicted to alcohol and I prefer not to drink it," Vivian said quietly.

"Has she always been a heavy drinker?"

"No," Vivian whimpered. "Just sense Charles!" Vivian burst out crying.

"It's all right Vivian," Nathan whispered at hugged her close.

"No, it's not. Ned and Charlotte woke him up! What if he comes back?"

"If he comes back, I will have something to say about it."

Vivian buried her head in his chest and sighed.

"Chuck we've been together awhile," Ned said. They had, in fact , been toghter for exactly 1 year 7 months 3 days 20 hours and 59 minutes. "I really love you, I will never be happy with out you," he smiled. "I think we're soul mates."

"I think so too," Chuck smiled back. "Loving you is hard, but I can't imagine my life without you now."

"Chuck," Ned said putting his hand into his pocket. "Will you marry me?" Chuck's mouth dropped open as she saw the ring."

"Yes!" Chuck happily cried. "Yes, Ned. I accept!" Chuck pulled off her glove and pressed it to Ned's mouth. She carefully and passionately kissed him through the glove. She pulled back and smiled, putting out her hand. Ned slipped the ring on. It had a silver band and blue stones around a diamond.

"It's beautiful," Chuck whispered.

"It was my mothers. I've had it for years, but I never thought I would use it."

"Can I go tell Vivian?"

"Can't you wait till tomorrow?"

"Yes," Chuck whined. "But I have such a happy feeling inside of me that I want to let it out to share."

"That's so thoughtful. Can you hold it in till tomorrow? We can have everybody over for a little engagement party."

"That would be super fantastic," Chuck bounced up and down.

Little did they know that the happiest night of their lives would quickly spoil.