This one is a little long...but that's okay, I hope! Well, enjoy, and have fun reading. Thank all of you so much for your reviews and encouragement! Hugs!

Johnny instinctively wrapped his arms around Baby and turned his back to the area from where the noise had come. Baby couldn't breathe, her heart stopped by the noise…and from her body's reaction to Johnny's embrace. Baby couldn't take this, not now. She shoved her way from his hold.

"Frances!" A voice called from the dark. Baby felt her heart sink as her stomach dropped into her knees. A wild panic began to take over, and she slid behind Johnny again, clasping his arms with her nails. Johnny's forehead wrinkled in confusion. Was someone else looking for her? This was getting ridiculous.

"Frances! I know you're here. Come out now, or Lisa gets it!" Baby heard a shriek as she darted out from behind Johnny.

"Joshua, please, no, I—" she choked out, her voice tight. Johnny grabbed the back of Baby's arm gently and pulled her towards him, as much to protect her as anything else. He leaned down and whispered in her ear gruffly.

"Who is this guy Baby?" She didn't catch his misuse of her nickname. She just shook her head, her eyes wide.

"My ex-husband," she replied, shuddering. Momentarily looking up at Johnny, she saw the look of frustration and the defiance hidden there in those dark blue gems. All of a sudden, Baby was extremely anxious for his life. She began to shake her head adamantly.

"No, Johnny, you can't do it, you just can't—"

"Frances, don't you go anywhere near him."

"Johnny, please! Listen to me!" The strain in her voice caused him to look down.

"If he sees either you or James with me, he'll lose it completely. I don't want you to get hurt. Please, stay away from him. For me." Johnny exhaled in exasperation.

"But Baby, I—"

"Shhh," she whispered, placing her finger on his lips. Her eyes were serene. Johnny clenched his fists, but allowed her to walk over alone.

The crowd parted like the red sea before Baby as she made her way over to Josh. Josh spotted her and let go of Lisa's arm. Baby watched from the corner of her eye as Lisa hurriedly made her way to Billy. When Lisa was safe, Baby spoke gently.

"Josh. What are you doing?" Standing just a few feet in front of her disloyal lover, she could smell the alcohol wandering from his breath. So he was drunk as well. Great.

"I jus waned to see you baby," he slurred, reaching his arm out to draw her close.

"Come on home now, and stop all this foolishness."

"Joshua, I haven't been home in a year." Baby spoke softy. If only she could get him away… Josh waved the gun in the air haphazardly as people gasped and backed away. Johnny stepped forward.

"Yeah, I know," he snarled. "I want you!" He reared back, aiming for Baby's face, preparing to snap her nose with the butt of his .35. She flinched, all of those awful memories coming back to her, vivid in their scope. She waited for the blow, one second, two seconds, and three seconds. Finally she opened her eyes.

Johnny stood there, having reached out and grabbed Josh's arm. He was now forcing it back behind his head. Just as the gun reached its position, aiming straight into the sky, Josh pulled the trigger, sending a bullet screaming its way into the night air. In two seconds flat Johnny had the little weasel on the ground, his arm pinned behind his back.

James had rushed up to Baby, concern evident in his eyes. He stroked her arm as Baby shut her eyes, her body expending itself from the air and returning to normal, or at least as close to normal as she could get.

"Are you okay sweet pea?" James crooned, rubbing her shoulder and attempting to pull her closer into his arms. Baby nodded. She let herself welcome his embrace, but her thoughts were with Johnny. Was he hurt?

"I called the police," Baby heard her father's voice coming from the side closest to Johnny.

"Well, Castle, I guess there was a reason that my daughter invited you here tonight. Thank you." Saying no more, Jake walked off again, disappearing into the house. Johnny just stared up at Baby, who was laying her head on Blondie's shoulder. What was he, dense? He was a fool to think that someone like Baby Houseman could go long without a man chasing after.

Twenty minutes later, the police had arrived to pick up Josh. Refusing to press charges, Baby insisted that they keep him in custody until morning, and then return him home. The police begrudgingly agreed, and the party resumed with as much normalcy as was possible after such an event.

Johnny stood in a corner and watched as Baby stood and talked with James, Lisa and Billy. He had no compulsion to join them. How much had happened to Baby Houseman during their nine year separation? Johnny didn't know, and at that moment he was beginning to think that the gap would never be closed.

Soon Johnny felt a presence by his feet. He looked down into the angelic little face of Katie, staring up at him in curiosity.

"Hi momma's friend," she supplied as he chuckled.

"Hey. What's your name, little missy?" Katie stared up in wonder, her eight year old eyes exploring the face of this man. Intuition told her little mind that they had some kind of connection, but what it was, she didn't know.

"Kathleen. But everybody calls me Katie. I like dancing. Do you like dancing?" Johnny smiled. He was intrigued by this character.

"Well, Ms Kathleen, I love dancing."

"Do ya wanna?"

"Wanna what?" Katie placed her hand on her hip and her eyebrows scrunched up. It was such a look of Baby's that Johnny almost laughed out loud.

"Dance. What are you, slow?" At this Johnny did laugh.

"I would love to dance." Taking Katie's hand, Johnny led her to the dance floor. As soon as they reached the middle Johnny scooped her up into his arms, causing giggles to spurt from the little girl. Katie wrapped her thin legs around Johnny's waist and placed her arms around his neck.

Johnny spun around, going into slight dips every once in a while, throwing Katie's black curls into the wind. From over by the pagoda, Baby watched Johnny and Katie spin on the dance floor. She smiled, her heart full. They looked so perfect together, everything seemed to fit. She could hear her daughter's laughter as it floated over on a breeze that ruffled her skirts and seemed to fill the air with his scent.

Johnny spun Katie around once more until a soft touch on his shoulder stopped him.

"Dear, can momma cut in?" Katie nodded vigorously and slipped down from Johnny's arms. Johnny stared at Baby as both stood in the center of the dance floor, neither one moving.

"What, bored of talking to your boyfriend?" The hurt in his voice was evident, even for someone as hard as Johnny Castle. What was this hold she had over him? Baby placed her hand on his shoulder and stared at him, trying to keep the pain out of her voice.

"Dance with me." Without a word, Johnny placed his hand on her lower back and pulled her closer until she was only a few breadths away. Baby couldn't breathe. There was something in the way he took control; the way he led effortlessly that took her out of this world and into another.

Johnny's heart melted, his arms feeling numb and limp. He watched the way her lips curved, her eyes closed. He wanted to kiss those eyelids. His hand folded softly around hers. Johnny inhaled, her scent filling his nostrils and driving him crazy. It was musky and sweet, like the smell of the forest after a spring rain, or a mix of cedar wood and lavender.

She was everything he remembered. The music came to completion, but the couple never let go. Baby had lost herself; her head spinning as he softly spun her out, around, and then back to him. A new tune began, a familiar one. This time Johnny pulled Baby as close as he could manage to get her and began to sing gently into her ear.

"All you have to do is touch my hand, to show me you understand, and something happens to me that's some kind of wonderful. Any time my little world seems blue, I just have to look at you, and everything seems to be some kind of wonderful. I know I can't express this feeling of tenderness. There's so much I wanna say, but the right words just don't come my way."

Baby smiled.This was a smile that lit her eyes and cheeks, a smile that warmed Johnny as he basked in the glow that exuded.

James watched from the corner as she danced with him, and his heart broke. He had never seen her smile like that. In fact, if he could have read the thoughts of the family surrounding him, he would have known that no one had seen that smilein nine years. James was losing his baby, and he was losing her fast.

"I just know when I'm in your embrace; the world is such a happy place. And something happens to me that's some kind of wonderful." Johnny pulled Baby close and stroked the back of her neck and her hair, remembering the feel of it against his skin. Baby shivered at his touch, those strong hands that caressed so sweetly. Iron hands with a velvet touch, she had used to say.

Johnny stopped. Baby looked up at him, her eyes longing. He cleared his throat and looked away.

"You have family to go to." He refused to look at her. Baby nodded, but she wanted, no she needed to have the last word.

"When will I see you again?" Johnny couldn't look at her.

"I don't know Baby." Walking away, he left her on the dance floor, staring after him. Nine years, Baby thought. Nine years, and watching him walk away rips me apart all over again.

One solitary tear dripped down.