Authors Note: I totally created Jimmy's Joint... I am so not good with making
up clever names of places when I have a headache, which I did when I was
writing this, so excuse my lack of research please. This chapter is pretty
much all fluff, but fun and it had to be done because it had to be
established that these people do know how to have some fun. Anyway, read
and enjoy and don't forget to reply! I like those replies.
Chapter Fourteen – The Song That Grace Likes
"Joshua, shut up and bring the slips to the guy," CJ barked, throwing a pencil at him. They were at Jimmy's Joint, a small karaoke bar in Georgetown. The remains of three pizza's and four pitchers of beer were scattered around the table, along with the Seaborn administrations senior staff, policy advisors, and only child. It was time for some singing.
Gracie leaned back in her chair, laughing, as Josh stumbled off. She hadn't really noticed until that point that Huck's arm was slung protectively over her seat and as she got comfortable in the leaning position, his hand fell to her shoulder. She felt safe and relaxed with it there so she didn't say anything.
Stiffening a yawn she turned to the other side of her, where Molly sat.
"Singing tonight?" Gracie asked Molly with a laugh. Molly rolled her eyes.
"I thought I'd spare you the torture this time," Molly replied with a sigh. "We'll leave the embarrassment this evening to my father," she said gesturing to Toby who was engrossed in conversation with Charlie.
"He's singing?" Huck asked piping in. Molly nodded.
"Yeah," she responded with a sigh. "He told me he refuses to believe that you got your talent from mom. He says he has something too."
Huck laughed.
"I'll believe it," he began, leaning over Gracie to get closer to Molly. "When I hear it."
Molly opened her mouth to respond but stopped when she heard the last song end and the DJ for the night begin to speak at the microphone.
"We'd like to welcome Claudia Jean to the stage," the announcer shouted, reading off of the slip. Apparently Josh was all about pay back. "Ladies and gentleman, give a big round of applause for "I'm The Only One."
Molly and Gracie exchanged glances, slow and drawn out wasn't the norm for CJ. She usually chose songs that were more upbeat and involved more screaming than actual singing. When the opening cord for the song came on Donna, the self-proclaimed queen of the tone deaf shouted her approval.
CJ, having shared in much of the beer that was passed around the table, grabbed the mic from its stand and began to drone.
"Please baby can't you see my minds a burning hell. I've got razors a ripping and tearing and stripping my heart apart as well. Tonight you told me that you ache for something new. And some other women was looking like something that might be good to you," as she began to near the chorus CJ started to really get into the lyrics. "Go on and hold her 'til the screaming is gone. Go on believe her when she tells you nothings wrong."
Toby started to cheer her on from the table, then was pulled to his feet by Zoey who was going to join Charlie and Pierce at the foot of the stage.
"And I'm the only one who'll walk across a fire for you," CJ practically shouted. "And I'm the only one who'll drown in my desire for you. Its only fear that makes you run from the demons that you're hiding from when all your promises are gone. I'm the only one..."
"You coming?" Josh asked, making his way up from the table with Donna. They were headed to dance.
"In a minute," Huck replied after Molly stood to join them. Molly looked from Huck then to Gracie, waiting for Gracie to nod, which she did, before abandoning them at the table.
"Please baby can't you see," CJ continued. "I'm trying to explain. I've been here before and I'm locking the door and I'm not going back again," CJ made her way to the edge of the stage, working her crowd. "Her eyes and arms and skin won't make it go away."
Huck gestured towards the crowd gathering around the stage and he and Gracie both laughed.
"You'll wake up tomorrow and wrestle the sorrow that holds you down today," CJ's voice drifted over Gracie's thoughts. It'll all seemed so right, her being there, with all of them. It felt so right that it was wrong. She didn't want to be thinking these thoughts. Not while she was still with Evan.
"What are you singing?" Huck asked loudly over the song.
"Go on and hold her 'til the screaming is gone," CJ continued in the background.
"I'm not telling," Gracie responded with a smile.
"Go on believe her when she tells you nothings wrong!" CJ completely lost herself in the song, her hands, arms, and hips all grooving with the music.
"What if I beg?" Huck asked sweetly, moving closer to her.
"And I'm the only one who'll walk across a fire for you," CJ started to bring it home.
Gracie stood up abruptly.
"Let's join the crowd," she shouted, behind her as she began to walk away.
"And I'm the only one who'll drown in my desire for you," this time CJ pointed at Toby, and sang the rest of the words, never breaking eye contact with him. "Its' only fear that makes you run the demons that you're hiding from, when all your promises are gone. I'm the only one," CJ finished to a loud round of cheers and applause. The place had pretty much emptied out, except for a set of couples in the back corner, and the senior staff club.
CJ took several bows, blushing slightly after all the excitement and the DJ took the stage again.
"Quite a little show you put on there Claudia Jean," he said with a nod. "Next up, we're gonna slow it down folks. We've got Charlie here and he'll be singing the great Eric Clapton's "Wonderful Tonight."
Charlie took the stage as the cords to the song floated through the room. Zoey, always afraid that her voice sounded like a chipmunk over the speakers, resisted the urge to join him on the stage and dance with him as he sang their wedding song.
"It's late in the evening," Charlie began crooning. Gracie stared up at him smiling. She'd always loved when Charlie sang; his deep bass voice was almost haunting. "She's wondering what clothes to wear. She puts on her makeup and brushes her long brown," Charlie changed the words to match Zoey's appearance. "Hair. And when she asks me, do I look alright? I say yes, you look wonderful tonight."
Zoey began absently swaying herself to the music, staring, eyes wide, the whole while, up at Charlie.
"May I have this dance?" Pierce asked Molly, pulling her away from the small group where she, Huck and Gracie stood.
"We go to a party," Charlie continued as Molly nodded and they began to dance. "And everyone turns to see. This beautiful lady," Charlie gestured to Zoey. "That's walking around with me. And then she asks me, do you feel alright? And I say yes, I feel wonderful tonight," Charlie could barely get the sentence out before Zoey was up on the stage with him. Gracie turned to exchange a look with Huck but he wasn't standing behind her like he once was, she noticed something moving to her left and that's when she saw he had taken to dancing with Donna.
"I feel wonderful, because I see the love light in your eyes," Charlie and Zoey danced, forehead to forehead as Charlie continued to sing. Gracie smiled when she noticed CJ and Toby pretty much lost in each other and then made a note of the only person not moving, Josh, and started towards him.
"And I wonder, of it all... that you just don't realize how much I love you," Charlie sang grateful he'd known all the words for quite some time now, as he felt himself get lost in Zoey's eyes. He had a feeling that there was a chance they would have to make it an early night.
"May I have this dance?" Gracie asked, coming up behind Josh. Josh smiled.
"It's time to go home now. And I've got an aching head. So I give her the car keys and she helps me to bed," Charlie's voice drops slightly.
"I thought you'd never ask," Josh replied sweetly, pulling out the dimples and taking Gracie's hand then spinning her around.
"And then I tell her, as I turn out the light. I say my darling you were wonderful tonight..." Charlie took a long pause before finishing. "Oh my darling, you are wonderful tonight..." the minute the song ended, Charlie and Zoey were kissing. The shouting of Huck's, moments later, as he pulled away from Donna was the only thing to stop them.
"Get a room," Huck laughed. Charlie and Zoey looked sheepishly to the crowd and exited the stage quickly.
The DJ, who had now seen everything, laughed as he introduced the next victim.
"Let's give it up," the DJ began, trying to control himself. "For Huck. Singing "She's Got A Way."
The group clapped, and CJ, sticking her fingers into her mouth, whistled.
"She's got a way about her," Huck began slowly with a sly smile on his lips. "I don't know what it is," he grabbed the microphone off of the stand where Charlie had returned it. "But I know that I can't live without her," he smiled down at no one in particular and almost forgot to look to the next line when he locked eyes with Gracie. "She's got a way of pleasing. I don't know what it is, but there doesn't have to be a reason anyway..." Huck trailed off the first verse slowly.
In the corner of her eye Gracie saw Molly had chosen her next dancing partner, Pierce was spinning her around playfully. Behind her she could hear Zoey and Charlie talking about leaving, but she, for the life of her, couldn't seem to break her gaze towards the stage as Huck continued to sing.
"She's got a smile that heals me," as he sang Huck could feel himself blush. "Don't know it is, but I have to laugh when she reveals me. She's got a way of talking. I don't know what it is, but it lifts me up when we are walking, anywhere..."
"Grace..." Gracie heard Zoey's voice, but it didn't really register. "Gracie..." she froze when she felt a hand on her shoulder and reluctantly spun around.
"We're leaving," Zoey spoke softly with a knowing smile. Gracie kissed both Zoey and Charlie goodbye.
"She comes to me when I'm feeling down. Inspires me without a sound. She touches me and I get turned around," Huck nodded as Charlie and Zoey waved goodbye, his only real concern was to get Gracie's attention back on him. "She's got a way of showing. How I make her feel and I find the strength to keep on going. She's got a light around her. And everywhere she goes, a million dreams of love surround her," he felt himself flush as Gracie's eyes were on his again. "Everywhere..."
Gracie could tell Josh is staring, but what she didn't know was that Donna was staring too and she saw way more than Josh ever would or could for that matter. Toby having stopped dancing with CJ watched Huck, with a sigh, as the scene unfolded around them.
"She comes to me when I'm feeling down," Huck continued, without so much as a slight pause out of place. "Inspires me without a sound. She touches me and I get turned around..." he closed his eyes as the song broke for a moment. "She's got a way about her. I don't know what it is but I know that I can't live without her..."
Toby couldn't believe what he was seeing. He'd always chosen to ignore the attraction between Gracie and Huck, always afraid not only of his sons broken heart, but his own. Since the day she was born Toby, like everyone else close to Sam and Mallory, thought of Gracie as his own. Making it legal through marriage would have been ideal, but he never wanted to hope too much, for both he and Huck's sakes. When he saw the way that Gracie looked at Huck though, he wondered what they were doing hiding from each other.
"Anyway..." Huck finished slowly. The clapping started out softly, but grew as Huck opened his eyes. For a moment, the fact that the song was over didn't even register with Gracie she was just so in awe of what she was feeling she didn't know what to do. Trembling, she walked back over to the table for her glass of water and took a sip as she sat.
"Like son like father," the DJ announced as Huck left the stage. "Cover your ears," he began, knowing the staff well, even after just one previous outing. "For Toby singing "Moondance," CJ clapped and cheered loudest of all.
"Well it's a marvelous night for a moondance, with the stars up above in your eyes. A fantabulous night to make romance, 'neath the cover of October skies. And all the leaves on the trees are falling to the sound of the breezes that blow. And I'm trying to please to the calling of your heart- strings that play soft and low," Toby sang, to the surprise of the crowd, with perfect tone and pitch. He was evening smiling.
"You alright?" Donna asked, taking a seat at the table next to where Gracie had momentarily collapsed. Gracie nodded, watching Huck and Molly tear it up on the dance floor.
"You know the night's magic seems to whisper and hush. And all the soft moonlight seems to shine in your blush..." Toby continued as he began to dance around the stage, becoming comfortable with his medium.
"Yeah..." Gracie sighed unconvincingly. "I just..." she looked at Donna helpless. "I don't know,"
Donna nodded.
"Can I just have one a' more moondance with you, my love? Can I just make some more romance with a' you, my love?" Toby dropped down to the floor and started singing directly to CJ. Josh and Pierce watched laughing. Molly and Huck looked mortified.
"What are you doing Grace?" Donna asked, moving closer so she could be heard. Gracie bit her lip to stop it from trembling. She took a long time before responding.
"Well I wanna make love to you tonight I can't wait till the morning has come. And I know now the time is just right and straight into my arms you will run. And when you come my heart will be waiting to make sure that you're never alone. There and then all my dreams will come true dear there and then I will make you my own. And every time I touch you, you just tremble inside and I know how much you want me that you can't hide..." Toby grabbed CJ's hand and was spinning her around. Thank god for wireless mic's.
"I have no idea..." Gracie replied simply.
"Can I just have one more moondance with you, my love? Can I just make some more romance with you, my love?" when Toby finished with CJ he moved on to Molly, mortifying his daughter. Molly buried her face in her hands, or at least tried to, as Toby began, in a rare playful moment, dancing around her.
"Well it's a marvelous night for a moondance with the stars up above in your eyes. A fantabulous night to make romance 'neath the cover of October skies. And all the leaves on the trees are falling to the sound of the breezes that blow. And I'm trying to please to the calling of your heart- strings that play soft and low," with Toby's singing in her face, Molly finally succumbed to his routine and pranced with him for a while.
Huck occupied his time glancing between his fool of a father and sister and Gracie, who looked in deep conversation with Donna.
"I think you need to figure it out," Donna said looking to Huck. He quickly turned away. "You owe him."
"You know the night's magic seems to whisper and hush. And all the soft moonlight seems to shine in your blush..." as Toby brought it home, Molly pulled Huck in.
Gracie nodded, as Donna stood then made her way back to Josh to enjoy the end of the song.
"One more moondance with you in the moonlight," Toby made his way slowly back onto the stage. "On a magic night... there's moonlight. On a magic night can't I just have one more dance with you my love?" he finished with a grand bow, receiving the most cheers of the night. When he got off the stage he made an immediately b-line for CJ. Gracie watched with a smile. He was getting soft in his old age.
"Next," the DJ began, still covering from the sight he'd just encountered. "A newbie to Jimmy's everybody open up for Gracie singing "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face."
All eyes were on Gracie as she made her way slowly towards the stage. As campaign staff tradition stated, no one shared the title of the song they were singing before they sang so nobody knew what Gracie had in store. Having taken singing lessons when she was a child Gracie wasn't nervous, just slightly shy as she approached the microphone, for she hadn't done anything like this in close to a year.
"The first time," she began slowly, softly, in control. "Ever I saw," she paused with the music and closed her eyes. "Your face. I thought the sun rose in your eyes," she opened them, looking for someone to lock her gaze on. "And the moon and the stars..." she found Huck almost immediately. "Were the gifts you gave to the dark and the endless skies," she smiled. "My love."
"What was that all about?" Josh asked quietly, as he pulled his wife into his arms for a slow dance.
Donna smiled.
"Girl talk," she replied simply.
"And the first time," Gracie continued, dropping her voice slightly, with the feel of the music. "Ever I kissed your mouth. I felt the earth move in my hand."
CJ and Toby swayed to the music, both secretly knowing since one night in Nebraska, yet choosing to ignore, who Gracie was singing about.
"Like the trembling heart of a captive bird that was there at my command," Gracie closed her eyes again. "My love."
Molly watching for the first time, amused at what she'd been missing in the past couple of days. Pierce moved next to her and they both watched in wonder.
"The first time ever I lay with you," Gracie opened her eyes again, relieved that he was still there in perfect line of sight. "And felt your heart, so close to mine. I knew our joy would fill the earth and last 'til the end of time, my love. And last 'til the end of time..." the music swelled around her and Gracie just took it all in, ready to finish with force. "The first time, ever I saw... your face," she took a deep breath with the music. "Your face..." she close her eyes one final time. "Your face..."
Gracie didn't open her eyes until the clapping had subsided. As she strolled off the stage she could barely feel her feet. She barely heard the DJ announce Josh to the stage and hardly noticed his presence before her until she heard him sing.
"Someday..." Josh began, bringing the tempo back up a notch. "When I'm awfully low," he swayed to the music, having performed that particular song over a dozen times. "When the world is cold, I will feel a glow just thinking of you. And the way you look tonight."
"Wanna dance?" Huck asked nervously, turning towards Gracie. She jumped, unaware that she was even next to him, but gratefully accepted the offer.
"Oh but you're lovely," Josh continued, channeling his idol Tony Bennett. "With your smile so warm," he looked over at Donna, who watched him, beaming. "And your cheeks to soft," he touched his face. "There is nothing for me but to love you," Josh pointed to Donna. "And the way you look tonight."
Gracie wrapped her arms around Huck's neck, inadvertently, giving him the heads up to pull her close, resting his hand on the small of her back. Oblivious to everything else around them, they swayed to the music.
"With each moment, your tenderness grows," Josh sang, getting more lovely- dovey as he crooned on. "Tearing my fears apart. And that laugh that wrinkles your nose, touches my foolish heart," Josh paused and smiled, dimples and all. "Lovely, never, ever change. Keep that breathless charm. Won't you please arrange it because, I, I love you. And the way you look tonight," he paused and took a deep breath. "Just the way you look, tonight..."
Post Chapter Note: I claim no ownership to these songs. The artists are just amazing inspirations and I have to give credit where credit is due. The song CJ sang, "I'm The Only One" is a favorite of mine by Melissa Etheridge. Charlie's song "Wonderful Tonight" is by the remarkably talented Eric Clapton. Huck's tune, "She's Got A Way" is by Piano Man Billy Joel. Toby's happy dance to "Moondance" is by the talented Van Morrison. Gracie's rendition of "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" is by Roberta Flack and finally as I mentioned channeling... Josh sang "The Way You Look Tonight" by the great Tony Bennett.
Chapter Fourteen – The Song That Grace Likes
"Joshua, shut up and bring the slips to the guy," CJ barked, throwing a pencil at him. They were at Jimmy's Joint, a small karaoke bar in Georgetown. The remains of three pizza's and four pitchers of beer were scattered around the table, along with the Seaborn administrations senior staff, policy advisors, and only child. It was time for some singing.
Gracie leaned back in her chair, laughing, as Josh stumbled off. She hadn't really noticed until that point that Huck's arm was slung protectively over her seat and as she got comfortable in the leaning position, his hand fell to her shoulder. She felt safe and relaxed with it there so she didn't say anything.
Stiffening a yawn she turned to the other side of her, where Molly sat.
"Singing tonight?" Gracie asked Molly with a laugh. Molly rolled her eyes.
"I thought I'd spare you the torture this time," Molly replied with a sigh. "We'll leave the embarrassment this evening to my father," she said gesturing to Toby who was engrossed in conversation with Charlie.
"He's singing?" Huck asked piping in. Molly nodded.
"Yeah," she responded with a sigh. "He told me he refuses to believe that you got your talent from mom. He says he has something too."
Huck laughed.
"I'll believe it," he began, leaning over Gracie to get closer to Molly. "When I hear it."
Molly opened her mouth to respond but stopped when she heard the last song end and the DJ for the night begin to speak at the microphone.
"We'd like to welcome Claudia Jean to the stage," the announcer shouted, reading off of the slip. Apparently Josh was all about pay back. "Ladies and gentleman, give a big round of applause for "I'm The Only One."
Molly and Gracie exchanged glances, slow and drawn out wasn't the norm for CJ. She usually chose songs that were more upbeat and involved more screaming than actual singing. When the opening cord for the song came on Donna, the self-proclaimed queen of the tone deaf shouted her approval.
CJ, having shared in much of the beer that was passed around the table, grabbed the mic from its stand and began to drone.
"Please baby can't you see my minds a burning hell. I've got razors a ripping and tearing and stripping my heart apart as well. Tonight you told me that you ache for something new. And some other women was looking like something that might be good to you," as she began to near the chorus CJ started to really get into the lyrics. "Go on and hold her 'til the screaming is gone. Go on believe her when she tells you nothings wrong."
Toby started to cheer her on from the table, then was pulled to his feet by Zoey who was going to join Charlie and Pierce at the foot of the stage.
"And I'm the only one who'll walk across a fire for you," CJ practically shouted. "And I'm the only one who'll drown in my desire for you. Its only fear that makes you run from the demons that you're hiding from when all your promises are gone. I'm the only one..."
"You coming?" Josh asked, making his way up from the table with Donna. They were headed to dance.
"In a minute," Huck replied after Molly stood to join them. Molly looked from Huck then to Gracie, waiting for Gracie to nod, which she did, before abandoning them at the table.
"Please baby can't you see," CJ continued. "I'm trying to explain. I've been here before and I'm locking the door and I'm not going back again," CJ made her way to the edge of the stage, working her crowd. "Her eyes and arms and skin won't make it go away."
Huck gestured towards the crowd gathering around the stage and he and Gracie both laughed.
"You'll wake up tomorrow and wrestle the sorrow that holds you down today," CJ's voice drifted over Gracie's thoughts. It'll all seemed so right, her being there, with all of them. It felt so right that it was wrong. She didn't want to be thinking these thoughts. Not while she was still with Evan.
"What are you singing?" Huck asked loudly over the song.
"Go on and hold her 'til the screaming is gone," CJ continued in the background.
"I'm not telling," Gracie responded with a smile.
"Go on believe her when she tells you nothings wrong!" CJ completely lost herself in the song, her hands, arms, and hips all grooving with the music.
"What if I beg?" Huck asked sweetly, moving closer to her.
"And I'm the only one who'll walk across a fire for you," CJ started to bring it home.
Gracie stood up abruptly.
"Let's join the crowd," she shouted, behind her as she began to walk away.
"And I'm the only one who'll drown in my desire for you," this time CJ pointed at Toby, and sang the rest of the words, never breaking eye contact with him. "Its' only fear that makes you run the demons that you're hiding from, when all your promises are gone. I'm the only one," CJ finished to a loud round of cheers and applause. The place had pretty much emptied out, except for a set of couples in the back corner, and the senior staff club.
CJ took several bows, blushing slightly after all the excitement and the DJ took the stage again.
"Quite a little show you put on there Claudia Jean," he said with a nod. "Next up, we're gonna slow it down folks. We've got Charlie here and he'll be singing the great Eric Clapton's "Wonderful Tonight."
Charlie took the stage as the cords to the song floated through the room. Zoey, always afraid that her voice sounded like a chipmunk over the speakers, resisted the urge to join him on the stage and dance with him as he sang their wedding song.
"It's late in the evening," Charlie began crooning. Gracie stared up at him smiling. She'd always loved when Charlie sang; his deep bass voice was almost haunting. "She's wondering what clothes to wear. She puts on her makeup and brushes her long brown," Charlie changed the words to match Zoey's appearance. "Hair. And when she asks me, do I look alright? I say yes, you look wonderful tonight."
Zoey began absently swaying herself to the music, staring, eyes wide, the whole while, up at Charlie.
"May I have this dance?" Pierce asked Molly, pulling her away from the small group where she, Huck and Gracie stood.
"We go to a party," Charlie continued as Molly nodded and they began to dance. "And everyone turns to see. This beautiful lady," Charlie gestured to Zoey. "That's walking around with me. And then she asks me, do you feel alright? And I say yes, I feel wonderful tonight," Charlie could barely get the sentence out before Zoey was up on the stage with him. Gracie turned to exchange a look with Huck but he wasn't standing behind her like he once was, she noticed something moving to her left and that's when she saw he had taken to dancing with Donna.
"I feel wonderful, because I see the love light in your eyes," Charlie and Zoey danced, forehead to forehead as Charlie continued to sing. Gracie smiled when she noticed CJ and Toby pretty much lost in each other and then made a note of the only person not moving, Josh, and started towards him.
"And I wonder, of it all... that you just don't realize how much I love you," Charlie sang grateful he'd known all the words for quite some time now, as he felt himself get lost in Zoey's eyes. He had a feeling that there was a chance they would have to make it an early night.
"May I have this dance?" Gracie asked, coming up behind Josh. Josh smiled.
"It's time to go home now. And I've got an aching head. So I give her the car keys and she helps me to bed," Charlie's voice drops slightly.
"I thought you'd never ask," Josh replied sweetly, pulling out the dimples and taking Gracie's hand then spinning her around.
"And then I tell her, as I turn out the light. I say my darling you were wonderful tonight..." Charlie took a long pause before finishing. "Oh my darling, you are wonderful tonight..." the minute the song ended, Charlie and Zoey were kissing. The shouting of Huck's, moments later, as he pulled away from Donna was the only thing to stop them.
"Get a room," Huck laughed. Charlie and Zoey looked sheepishly to the crowd and exited the stage quickly.
The DJ, who had now seen everything, laughed as he introduced the next victim.
"Let's give it up," the DJ began, trying to control himself. "For Huck. Singing "She's Got A Way."
The group clapped, and CJ, sticking her fingers into her mouth, whistled.
"She's got a way about her," Huck began slowly with a sly smile on his lips. "I don't know what it is," he grabbed the microphone off of the stand where Charlie had returned it. "But I know that I can't live without her," he smiled down at no one in particular and almost forgot to look to the next line when he locked eyes with Gracie. "She's got a way of pleasing. I don't know what it is, but there doesn't have to be a reason anyway..." Huck trailed off the first verse slowly.
In the corner of her eye Gracie saw Molly had chosen her next dancing partner, Pierce was spinning her around playfully. Behind her she could hear Zoey and Charlie talking about leaving, but she, for the life of her, couldn't seem to break her gaze towards the stage as Huck continued to sing.
"She's got a smile that heals me," as he sang Huck could feel himself blush. "Don't know it is, but I have to laugh when she reveals me. She's got a way of talking. I don't know what it is, but it lifts me up when we are walking, anywhere..."
"Grace..." Gracie heard Zoey's voice, but it didn't really register. "Gracie..." she froze when she felt a hand on her shoulder and reluctantly spun around.
"We're leaving," Zoey spoke softly with a knowing smile. Gracie kissed both Zoey and Charlie goodbye.
"She comes to me when I'm feeling down. Inspires me without a sound. She touches me and I get turned around," Huck nodded as Charlie and Zoey waved goodbye, his only real concern was to get Gracie's attention back on him. "She's got a way of showing. How I make her feel and I find the strength to keep on going. She's got a light around her. And everywhere she goes, a million dreams of love surround her," he felt himself flush as Gracie's eyes were on his again. "Everywhere..."
Gracie could tell Josh is staring, but what she didn't know was that Donna was staring too and she saw way more than Josh ever would or could for that matter. Toby having stopped dancing with CJ watched Huck, with a sigh, as the scene unfolded around them.
"She comes to me when I'm feeling down," Huck continued, without so much as a slight pause out of place. "Inspires me without a sound. She touches me and I get turned around..." he closed his eyes as the song broke for a moment. "She's got a way about her. I don't know what it is but I know that I can't live without her..."
Toby couldn't believe what he was seeing. He'd always chosen to ignore the attraction between Gracie and Huck, always afraid not only of his sons broken heart, but his own. Since the day she was born Toby, like everyone else close to Sam and Mallory, thought of Gracie as his own. Making it legal through marriage would have been ideal, but he never wanted to hope too much, for both he and Huck's sakes. When he saw the way that Gracie looked at Huck though, he wondered what they were doing hiding from each other.
"Anyway..." Huck finished slowly. The clapping started out softly, but grew as Huck opened his eyes. For a moment, the fact that the song was over didn't even register with Gracie she was just so in awe of what she was feeling she didn't know what to do. Trembling, she walked back over to the table for her glass of water and took a sip as she sat.
"Like son like father," the DJ announced as Huck left the stage. "Cover your ears," he began, knowing the staff well, even after just one previous outing. "For Toby singing "Moondance," CJ clapped and cheered loudest of all.
"Well it's a marvelous night for a moondance, with the stars up above in your eyes. A fantabulous night to make romance, 'neath the cover of October skies. And all the leaves on the trees are falling to the sound of the breezes that blow. And I'm trying to please to the calling of your heart- strings that play soft and low," Toby sang, to the surprise of the crowd, with perfect tone and pitch. He was evening smiling.
"You alright?" Donna asked, taking a seat at the table next to where Gracie had momentarily collapsed. Gracie nodded, watching Huck and Molly tear it up on the dance floor.
"You know the night's magic seems to whisper and hush. And all the soft moonlight seems to shine in your blush..." Toby continued as he began to dance around the stage, becoming comfortable with his medium.
"Yeah..." Gracie sighed unconvincingly. "I just..." she looked at Donna helpless. "I don't know,"
Donna nodded.
"Can I just have one a' more moondance with you, my love? Can I just make some more romance with a' you, my love?" Toby dropped down to the floor and started singing directly to CJ. Josh and Pierce watched laughing. Molly and Huck looked mortified.
"What are you doing Grace?" Donna asked, moving closer so she could be heard. Gracie bit her lip to stop it from trembling. She took a long time before responding.
"Well I wanna make love to you tonight I can't wait till the morning has come. And I know now the time is just right and straight into my arms you will run. And when you come my heart will be waiting to make sure that you're never alone. There and then all my dreams will come true dear there and then I will make you my own. And every time I touch you, you just tremble inside and I know how much you want me that you can't hide..." Toby grabbed CJ's hand and was spinning her around. Thank god for wireless mic's.
"I have no idea..." Gracie replied simply.
"Can I just have one more moondance with you, my love? Can I just make some more romance with you, my love?" when Toby finished with CJ he moved on to Molly, mortifying his daughter. Molly buried her face in her hands, or at least tried to, as Toby began, in a rare playful moment, dancing around her.
"Well it's a marvelous night for a moondance with the stars up above in your eyes. A fantabulous night to make romance 'neath the cover of October skies. And all the leaves on the trees are falling to the sound of the breezes that blow. And I'm trying to please to the calling of your heart- strings that play soft and low," with Toby's singing in her face, Molly finally succumbed to his routine and pranced with him for a while.
Huck occupied his time glancing between his fool of a father and sister and Gracie, who looked in deep conversation with Donna.
"I think you need to figure it out," Donna said looking to Huck. He quickly turned away. "You owe him."
"You know the night's magic seems to whisper and hush. And all the soft moonlight seems to shine in your blush..." as Toby brought it home, Molly pulled Huck in.
Gracie nodded, as Donna stood then made her way back to Josh to enjoy the end of the song.
"One more moondance with you in the moonlight," Toby made his way slowly back onto the stage. "On a magic night... there's moonlight. On a magic night can't I just have one more dance with you my love?" he finished with a grand bow, receiving the most cheers of the night. When he got off the stage he made an immediately b-line for CJ. Gracie watched with a smile. He was getting soft in his old age.
"Next," the DJ began, still covering from the sight he'd just encountered. "A newbie to Jimmy's everybody open up for Gracie singing "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face."
All eyes were on Gracie as she made her way slowly towards the stage. As campaign staff tradition stated, no one shared the title of the song they were singing before they sang so nobody knew what Gracie had in store. Having taken singing lessons when she was a child Gracie wasn't nervous, just slightly shy as she approached the microphone, for she hadn't done anything like this in close to a year.
"The first time," she began slowly, softly, in control. "Ever I saw," she paused with the music and closed her eyes. "Your face. I thought the sun rose in your eyes," she opened them, looking for someone to lock her gaze on. "And the moon and the stars..." she found Huck almost immediately. "Were the gifts you gave to the dark and the endless skies," she smiled. "My love."
"What was that all about?" Josh asked quietly, as he pulled his wife into his arms for a slow dance.
Donna smiled.
"Girl talk," she replied simply.
"And the first time," Gracie continued, dropping her voice slightly, with the feel of the music. "Ever I kissed your mouth. I felt the earth move in my hand."
CJ and Toby swayed to the music, both secretly knowing since one night in Nebraska, yet choosing to ignore, who Gracie was singing about.
"Like the trembling heart of a captive bird that was there at my command," Gracie closed her eyes again. "My love."
Molly watching for the first time, amused at what she'd been missing in the past couple of days. Pierce moved next to her and they both watched in wonder.
"The first time ever I lay with you," Gracie opened her eyes again, relieved that he was still there in perfect line of sight. "And felt your heart, so close to mine. I knew our joy would fill the earth and last 'til the end of time, my love. And last 'til the end of time..." the music swelled around her and Gracie just took it all in, ready to finish with force. "The first time, ever I saw... your face," she took a deep breath with the music. "Your face..." she close her eyes one final time. "Your face..."
Gracie didn't open her eyes until the clapping had subsided. As she strolled off the stage she could barely feel her feet. She barely heard the DJ announce Josh to the stage and hardly noticed his presence before her until she heard him sing.
"Someday..." Josh began, bringing the tempo back up a notch. "When I'm awfully low," he swayed to the music, having performed that particular song over a dozen times. "When the world is cold, I will feel a glow just thinking of you. And the way you look tonight."
"Wanna dance?" Huck asked nervously, turning towards Gracie. She jumped, unaware that she was even next to him, but gratefully accepted the offer.
"Oh but you're lovely," Josh continued, channeling his idol Tony Bennett. "With your smile so warm," he looked over at Donna, who watched him, beaming. "And your cheeks to soft," he touched his face. "There is nothing for me but to love you," Josh pointed to Donna. "And the way you look tonight."
Gracie wrapped her arms around Huck's neck, inadvertently, giving him the heads up to pull her close, resting his hand on the small of her back. Oblivious to everything else around them, they swayed to the music.
"With each moment, your tenderness grows," Josh sang, getting more lovely- dovey as he crooned on. "Tearing my fears apart. And that laugh that wrinkles your nose, touches my foolish heart," Josh paused and smiled, dimples and all. "Lovely, never, ever change. Keep that breathless charm. Won't you please arrange it because, I, I love you. And the way you look tonight," he paused and took a deep breath. "Just the way you look, tonight..."
Post Chapter Note: I claim no ownership to these songs. The artists are just amazing inspirations and I have to give credit where credit is due. The song CJ sang, "I'm The Only One" is a favorite of mine by Melissa Etheridge. Charlie's song "Wonderful Tonight" is by the remarkably talented Eric Clapton. Huck's tune, "She's Got A Way" is by Piano Man Billy Joel. Toby's happy dance to "Moondance" is by the talented Van Morrison. Gracie's rendition of "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" is by Roberta Flack and finally as I mentioned channeling... Josh sang "The Way You Look Tonight" by the great Tony Bennett.