A/N: Once again, thank you for reading and reviewing! I'm unsure about the song choices I've chosen for the karaoke but still, sorry if the lyrics aren't correct (disclaimer: I don't own them either) but google has varied versions of the songs! I've had issues with the formatting of this update to so just bare with me if it's not right and I'll try and sort it xD I hope you enjoy this update. X

~Mini Peacelet~

Part 25

The alcoholic beverages were flowing rapidly. They needed to be, anything to numb the humiliation waiting ahead of them for karaoke was immensely appreciated. Cocktail after cocktail, they were determined that they needed to be tipsy at the least if they were to enjoy the karaoke. This was their final night in the Bahamas - it was going to be a memorable one.

Christine was first and had elected for an Abba classic; Gimme Gimme Gimme (A Man After Midnight). She appeared to skip half the words that were given on the lyric screen, and the order in which they came left a lot to be desired but despite that, she tried. The only versus' she was half successful with was the chorus. Everybody had had enough to drink for the quality of the performance not to be bothered. All they coveted was for entertainment. The blonde fitted that criteria.

For their duet, which went down a treat, they selected 'We Can Change'.

'When the leaves turn to red, Don't you cry waiting for summer, There's a change in the air waking crimson skies, I am ready, Couldn't have come too soon, Can't keep us down, So we'll rise from the ashes, This is our time now.

This is just a part of me, It's not the whole, the whole of me, For you, for you I can't change now, It is just a part of me.

It's not the whole, the whole of me, I cry you cry, You bleed I bleed, I'm free you're free, We love we lie, We hurt we try, Oh we can change.'

Nikki's solo karaoke slot was the last out of the three that the married couple had. Corresponding with her wife, she was extremely apprehensive. She wasn't worried or anxious about what people would think; she was almost positive of the reaction she would receive. She was just conscious because Christine was there - and it was humiliating. The intro beats began to her song choice and she raised the microphone to her lips.

'Handle bars, never let go, let go for anyone, Take me in and throw out my heart and get a new one, Next thing we're touching, You look at me, it's like you hit me with lightning.

Oh, everybody's starry eyed, And everybody glows, Oh, everybody's starry eyed, And my body goes, Whoa oh oh ah ah, Whoa oh oh, ah an, Whoa oh oh.

So we burst into colours, colours and carousels, Fall head first like paper planes and playground games, Next thing we're touching, You look at me, it's like you hit me with lightning.'

Christine's breath gathered in the back of her throat, heart skipping a thundering beat. The no nonsense teacher was breathtaking. Her voice was graceful and melodious. And contrasting to her wife, she was one of the few women who was actually in tune. She was popular with the crowd.

Both Nikki and Christine obtained themselves a - well earned - cocktail after and settled in the midst of the dance floor to enjoy the following karaoke. Strident lights spiralled across the floor in typical disco colours. The music was increasing with volume, thumping through the resort and echoing outside.

"Gimme gimme gimme a man after midnight though?" Nikki's serious frown soon dissolved into merry laughter as she continued to articulate after a brief pause, "Wouldn't gimme gimme gimme a woman after midnight have been more appropriate?" She puckered her eyebrow as she attempted - and failed - to compose a sincere expression.

The blonde shrugged innocently. The more she thought about it, the more she agreed with her wife about the adjustments she she should have introduced to the lyrics, "You are probably right, but I was simply following the words on the screen." She pouted.

The former army captain exploded into more uncontrollable giggles, "Following the words on the screen? You couldn't even see the screen because you'd had so much to drink prior to your slot! It was definitely an interesting version compared to the original." She teased.

Christine rolled her eyes dramatically, "That's just a technical issue." She laughed as she shuffled closer to her wife beneath the bed linen. They were both more sober subsequently to a couple of glasses of water and the late night dancing they had participated in. The headmistress was joyfully ecstatic because she had finally succeeded in convincing Nikki to join her on the dance floor.

Snuggled together, the muted ambience was granted permission to wisp around them as they admired the luminous stars shining radiantly in the velvet, midnight-blue sky, with loops and fizzes of resplendent, pastel shaded lightning for one more time. The glass panel embedded in the smooth ceiling of their honeymoon suite, situated with precision above the bed, was a magnificent bonus. They even perceived a shooting star highlighting the dark skies.

"Nik," Christine's voice was delicate and soft, subtly reverberating the room with a placid harmony, "You have a beautiful voice you know, I never realised you could sing." She smiled blissfully.

Instantly developing a rare shy trait, the brunette's cheeks flushed a saturated crimson, "Thank you," This was one of the first times she had actually accepted a compliment - it was going to be a cherished moment for sure.

"Why didn't you mention that you could sing?" Her fingertips traced dainty patterns on the exposed skin of her shoulder and collarbone, trailing down her arm in a swirl.

Nikki shrugged tenderly, "I guess I've always been embarrassed by it, I never really wanted anyone to find out. Because of the person everyone thinks I am - my exterior - it doesn't really fit." She murmured timidly. "The lads in the army would have crucified me with teasing, the kids at school would never drop it. I'm not really one to be in the spotlight for something like this."

"We all have hidden secrets, and this just happens to be one of yours." The older female smiled affectionately, then inclining forward and brushing her lips against Nikki's.