Thanks for all the reviews! Just a warning, if you didn't like the attitude about Link in the last chapter this one won't be too good either, but please view the movie again. Link abandons Amber, remember?

12.

They spent their days catching glances. They spent their evenings sneaking embraces. That spot under her new vanity, while always a sanctuary, became a place of stolen kisses and hidden notes. She was always with him although physically they were apart. He watched her dance and his body reacted. He watched her sing and he hummed along. When Link sang dripping love songs, he mouthed the words. In the end she would smile at him over Link's shoulder. It made it all right. He knew that embrace was for him.

He would not allow her to come to his house. It was risky in so many ways. Someone could see her, they could get caught. Even if she parked away from his home, someone could see her walking. But more than that, in his mind, the idea of having her in his comfort zone was just too much for him to resist. Dreaming of long lovemaking sessions was one thing, having her there was quite another. He honestly told her that he couldn't have her there for just this reason. She kissed him and affirmed her apprehension as well. She was ready for anything from him, but knew the word 'wait' was their mantra.

They stole time together in the strangest places. The Library became their hidden paradise. He could stick his nose in a book and greet the other kids until she arrived. She would say her quick hello to show him she had arrived then head to the research section to spread her notebooks and pencils. A quick flip through the encyclopedias to find a relative page and back to the children's section she went. They met by the Preschool books to quickly embrace and hold hands. Ever on the alert for big brothers or sisters accompanying siblings to the area, they stole what they could and counted the days to more. It would come one day and not soon enough.

Movie theaters were dark and quiet. Even on a Saturday afternoon. They always picked an art film that their workmates wouldn't dream of attending. The theater near the library was safe. She would leave her schoolwork sitting on a table and scoot through the back alley to find him in the back row. He could touch the places that she longed to be touched in the cover of darkness and pull back when he heard soft throaty moans. He held her and she sighed. They were always separate when the lights came up. She would take the back exit and he strode out the front looking around as he entered his car, he would watch her run back in. She never looked his way.

Her birthday arrived with much fanfare. Velma would not concede to having the dancers at her party in the banquet room. It was a business affair. So she begged for a party at the studio to include all the kids. Velma arranged a catered affair with a huge cake that she couldn't eat. Lovely. They were all called on command performance to the studio. They hugged and congratulated her over and over. Link proudly stood by her side, grinning and glowing. He had seen a change in her since the whole storm experience. She seemed subdued. Her clothes had gotten duller. Unless she was at that studio, her makeup and hair were not always perfect. He had talked to his mom about it and she chalked it up to Amber's near death experience. But Link suspected it was more. He caught her looking across the studio more than once. To the podium and the strong presence there. And the man looked and smiled. What ever happened in that storage room was not spoken of, but Link somehow knew that it was something. A something between them, they held in secret. He was crazy jealous but when he tried to pry information out of her, she laughed and repeated the same story. Link stayed close to her when he was around. He wasn't letting her go that easily.

Corny strode up at his usual start time. He went to the podium and shuffled through papers. He wanted so badly to run to her, passionately kiss her and announce that she was now his, but it wasn't true. June was three months away and until then she remained in her place. Not his.

"Go tell my daughter Happy Birthday Corny. She's eighteen." Velma commanded from the front of the podium.

Yikes! They had agreed, they wouldn't speak today. Not before the end of the show anyway. "Ah, Velma, she looks pretty busy over there. Tell her I said 'happy birthday' later." He said without looking up.

Never one to be dismissed, Velma would not be deterred, "She doesn't want to hear it from me. Go now." She saw him looking at his watch, "You have the time, go."

He looked at Velma and sighed. He bounded off the podium and through the crowd of dancers around her. She looked at him in shock.

"Happy Birthday, Amber and many more" he said with a small smile. He extended his hand.

She looked at the hand then looked to his face. Tears came to her eyes and she threw her arms around him. "I wouldn't even be here if it wasn't for you. Oh thank you!"

Oh God, he couldn't help but smile. "It's okay little girl. It's okay." He pushed her away and Link took her hand. "Where would I be without my lead dancer?" Their eyes were still locked as he turned, "Where do I get cake?"

Link stared at her as tears flowed from her eyes still watching him as he left. She looked up at Link and fell into his embrace. He stroked her hair and guided her away. Away from the party and away from him. He felt it, he saw it and he knew it. She was his no more.