Milly looped her arm through John's as she watched the authorities escort Blond Chris Irvine to the door. Boy, she thought, this was really going to wreak havoc with Mae's plan to marry the guy. Then Milly gazed over at her sister and Mr. Mike Mizanin, saw the way two of them were gazing at each other as if they had some really big plans, and realized that maybe, just maybe, she had been making assumptions about her sister, and a lot of other people, for a long time that weren't exactly accurate.

"Wanna dance?"

She turned her attention back to John and smiled. "There's, um, no music playing." She pointed out.

"Yeah, well considering how the feds, who weren't even invited to this shindig, I might point out."

"Neither were you, from what I hear." She interrupted.

But John ignored the comment. "Considering how the feds just took the class president out in handcuffs. Music, at this point, wouldn't exactly be in good taste."

As if cued by their discussion, the music did start up again then, the hired DJ having evidently decided that music might improve the sudden downturn in the mood of the crowd. The song was something slow and mellow and strangely familiar.

"Do my ears deceive me?" John asked. "Is that Barry Manilow I hear?"

"I believe it is." Milly said with a slow nod.

He stepped back a pace and opened his arms wife in an unmistakable invitation. "Come on, baby. They're playing our song."

Milly chuckled as she went to him, curling her hands against his chest and snuggling close as he folded his arms over her back. His warmth and his scent surrounded her and she sighed silently her contentment at being so close to him again. There had been a few points during the day when she had feared she might not ever see him again. Now, though, she was absolutely certain they would never be apart.

"You're sure you're okay?" He asked softly as if he'd sensed the avenue of her thoughts. "I don't think I've ever been more afraid in my life than I was this afternoon when I realized you were gone. And when I found out who was responsible, I wanted to kill the sonafabitch. With my bare hands."

She nodded against his shoulder. "I was surprised, too, when the people from the FBI explained everything. But I'm okay, John. I was scared but that's all. Nobody hurt me. Chris locked me in the bedroom and left a couple of his goons outside. When the federal agents showed up, the two henchmen about wet themselves trying to surrender. Mike got in a couple of good licks on my behalf before they did, he must have been some kind of hell-raiser in his day."

"Mike?" John asked incredulously, pulling back far enough to gaze down into Milly's face. He didn't seem to believe her. "My Mike?" He echoed. "A hell-raiser?"

Milly nodded enthusiastically. "If his right hook is any indication, yes."

John gaped for a moment. "Boy that kid's been holding out on me. Had I but known, he and I could have been having a good time together. Gee, you think you know a guy."

"Anyway." Milly continued. "As I understand it, the bad guys are cooperating fully with the good guys now. All in all, I'd say the world is revolving just the way it's supposed to be."

John pulled her close again, tucking her head beneath his chin. "You got that right, sweetheart. You definitely got that right."

They danced in silence for some time, letting their hands slowly, surreptitiously explore each other, reacquainting themselves with fondly remembered places. At one point, Milly opened her eyes to see her sister and Mr. Mizanin, thought she supposed she should get used to thinking of him as Mike now, as they danced past, Mae looking happier and more at peace than Milly had ever seen her look. Mike, too, appeared to be in a place of utter bliss, so Milly closed her eyes again and melted into John. Everything, she thought, was exactly as it should be.

"I just realized something." John said suddenly.

"What's that?" She asked without opening his eyes. The rhythmic to and fro of their bodies was seductive, narcotic and she had no desire whatsoever to disturb her own place of utter bliss.

"We never danced at our prom." He told her.

She smiled. "No, we didn't, did we?"

"So that's two things we missed out on that night."

"But we're dancing now."

"So we are."

"And if you want." She added. "We could go out to the parking garage later and look around for a 1993 Chevy Lumina. I think that's what Adam was driving that night."

"Chevy Luminas are for kids." John told her. "Grown-ups are allowed much greater freedom."

Freedom, she thought. That was exactly what lay at the bottom of it all. That was why she was feeling so good right now. She was free of the past. Free of her less than pleasant memories. And now she was free to stop trying to recapture the girl she once was and free to become the woman she'd always had the potential to be. That, Milly decided, was where she would find her happiness. There and somewhere else, with someone else too.

She pulled her head back to look at John and he gazed down at her with undisguised affection. No, more than affection, she thought. What he felt for her was clear.

"I love you." She said.

He bent to brush his lips lightly over hers. "I love you too."

"We'll never be able to go back, will we, John?"

"No." He said. "We never will. But you know what, Milly?"

"What?"

"We can go forward. And something tells me that's a much better place to be."

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