Della returned to their table a bit chagrined and unsure of what she was going to say about Helen. The young woman's chair was still empty so it appeared that Helen had followed through on her abrupt decision to go home.

"Everything alright, Della?" Perry asked.

"Let's just say it didn't go as smoothly as I'd envisioned. All I wanted was to clarify that her parents were trying to go out on a date, but I think I accidentally made Helen feel embarrassed about wanting to spend so much time with her parents. She said she felt uncomfortable going dancing with them now and wanted to go home instead. I guess I shouldn't have said anything to her."

Della sighed and set her purse down beside her once again. She looked over at Hamilton and Alexandra. "If it was my fault I apologize. I certainly hadn't meant to run her off."

"And too bad too," Drake said with disappointment, putting out another cigarette. "She's a pretty girl. I can't say I'd have minded a few dances with her myself."

Tragg's smile widened with savage glee as he caught the horrified dismay widening Burger's eyes. Hot headed Hamilton Burger with a pretty daughter was going to provide many occasions of revolting entertainment and Tragg hoped he was there to see it all.

"That's my little girl you're talking about like that, Paul!" Hamilton exclaimed, sitting up ramrod straight as if about to leap from his chair like a panther on its prey.

"What?! She's gorgeous, so sue me! Would you rather I said she looked like you?" Paul fired back teasingly.

"If I catch you with her, Paul, so help me, I'll…"

Alexandra laid a calming hand on Hamilton's arm with an amused glance, but reassured Della. "Not to worry, Della. Helen can be oversensitive at times. She's always tried so hard to be a good kid that I think she gets hard on herself when she makes a mistake. She'll be alright in a day or two. And honestly, I feel a little selfish asking for time alone with Hamilton when Helen has never known the man, but he and I have so much to discuss and some of that has to do with Helen's future too."

Simmering next to Alexandra, Hamilton caught Mason watching him with that infuriating smirk on his handsome face. No sooner did the prosecutor have to adjust to fatherhood practically overnight, but he had to absorb in the same amount of time the idea that there would be men trying to date his daughter or worse. And given what had happened to Alexandra at about the same age as Helen was, Hamilton knew just what could happen to his only child.

"So are we headed out or what?" Drake asked, hoping to change the subject so Hamilton would have a reason to cease glaring daggers at him.

W^^^W^^^W

"So what should we start off with," Hamilton asked Alexandra as they secured a table. Surprisingly, Tragg had decided to accompany them. He didn't typically go out much as his wife had passed along with his oldest son long ago, the victims of a gruesome murder. The experience of course had been a life changing one and Tragg had thrown himself into his work as a policeman, struggling to raise his remaining three children as a single father. They were grown now and Tragg had never found the time to date again and remarry. In this particular instance though, he couldn't resist the opportunity to see Burger ballroom dance as Alexandra claimed he could.

Alexandra thought about that a moment. "What do you think you remember? If it's been that long perhaps we should start with something easier? Foxtrot perhaps? If you remember a few of the basic patterns of the Viennese Waltz we could start with that too."

Hamilton grinned in that infectious way he had. "Don't think I could handle a Quickstep after all these years, huh?"

"I'm all for it if you think you remember it," Alexandra assured him.

"Come on," he said, leading her out onto the dance floor and pulling her close. "I want to hold you for a few minutes before we get fancy."

Gently swaying to the slow music, Hamilton inhaled the soft fragrance of her hair and perfume and thanked whatever deities existed for leading Alexandra back to him.

"I've missed you, Alex," he murmured. Some part of his mind registered that the rest of the gang had arrived at their table and were watching him and Alexandra curiously.

She squeezed him gently, wrapping her arms around him and savoring the comfortable feeling of being in his strong arms again.

Paul Drake dropped himself into the chair next to Perry. "After all the hype, that's all they're gonna do?! Dance like everybody else?!"

"I think they're waiting for the next song to come up," Della supplied.

"Do you think Burger would really hunt me down if I asked Helen out?" Paul asked.

"Legally there isn't anything he can do to stop you since she's a legal adult," Perry said matter of factly. "Still… she is very young, Paul. Are you sure the age difference wouldn't be a problem? You two may not have very much in common."

"Say it does work out," Tragg smirked. "Imagine Hamilton Burger as your father in law."

"Good point," Paul acknowledged as he ordered a drank from the server wandering by. "Anyone else? Drinks are on me tonight."

"Oh well in that case…," Mason brightened smirked, deciding to take Paul up on that offer and putting in a drink order with the server as well.

Della shook her head at Perry with a smile.

"What?" That mischievous smirk again.

"You just weren't going to let that slide by, were you? Paul buying this time."

"It may be my only chance," Perry teased.

At that moment, the song changed and several of the couples who had been on the floor took the opportunity to meander back to their tables for a break. This worked out for Hamilton and Alexandra who hadn't been quite sure how they were going to work in any ballroom dancing on such a crowded dance floor. The steps and patterns in ballroom dancing were usually rather big and could cover the floor so having some space was necessary. With the latin dances this aspect wasn't as crucial.

They listened to the new song for a moment when Hamilton looked to Alexandra for confirmation. "Viennese Waltz?"

She grinned, impressed. "You remember. Now let's see if you actually remember how to dance it."

"Challenge accepted," he grinned back as they set up. "Let's see Perry do this…"

"I see you haven't lost your competitive streak," Alexandra noted with some amusement as Hamilton led her through the first basic patterns in the Viennese Waltz to warm them up. "Are you sure you haven't been practicing. You're doing really well so far for someone claiming to not have danced like this since the last time you saw me."

"I still remember how to do other things too," he teased back and laughed when he was rewarded with a gentle swat on the arm.

"One thing at a time, Mr. District Attorney," she admonished teasingly, though her eyes suggested she was thinking along similar lines.