I see I succeeded in making everyone all disgustingly sappy with that last entry. This is one of the best responses I've gotten from my reviews. The epilogue should be up sometime tomorrow, so, in the meantime, have fun with this chapter. It doesn't really add anything to the plot (since that's pretty much finished), but I wanted to show them having a good time.

Emmanuelle: hey, I know how it is. It's hard to take a couple of days off, though. My romantic view is more personal than LJ's, I suppose. I write what I dream could happen to me . . . ::sigh:: =P

Hedge: I told you, didn't I? Now you know why it took me so long to write it out while I was talking to you! LoL. I was serious when I said it almost making me cry. Glad you liked it! Too bad I don't have any explosives or finger-incidinces, though . . . =)

amphitrite: I'm happy that I could make you all sappy. Tee hee.

Adelaide E: Did you ever doubt me?? I guess I'm just quick like that. Hee hee. You can thank Hedge for the Morgead idea. She said she wanted to see it. Thanks for complimenting the plot. You'll find out something more about the gang in the epilogue, if that consoles you any.

Forest Elfin: Yeah, it took forever for Chapter 18 to even show up this morning. It irked me very much. I added the singing to put her to the edge, make her come across as a strong person. Thank so much for the compliments! They're very appreciated!

Tamashii: I hope you liked the chapter when you finally got a chance to read it! I'm glad you like the story, I really am!

Blaise: You always seem so excited about my chapters! It makes me smile. =)

*Chapter 19*



Tala couldn't have been any happier. It was the minute before midnight, and she was surrounded by everyone that she loved, and to top it off, they all loved her in return. Around her stood all of her friends and their soulmates, her cousins Lupe and Ulric, her almost-niece Vesta, and Monroe, holding her as if she would disappear if he loosened his grip.

The screen set up on the platform was showing the national New Year's celebration, and the ball in the Big Apple was beginning to makes it descent to the year 1999. Vaguely, she heard a familiar Prince song playing in the background.

She turned her eyes to her soulmate, reeling in the warmth of his love. She kissed him lightly, unable to get enough of the connection thrumming between them.

He leaned his forehead against hers. "So, you love me?"

She closed her eyes and smiled, nodding her head.

"And you know I love you?"

"Yes."

"And you're never going to tell me to get lost again?"

"No."

"And you'll be with me forever?"

She grinned playfully. "That's my New Year's resolution." The crowd around her were counting down the last few seconds of the night. As they reached the moment of twelve, she pulled him to her, meeting his lips with her own, ignoring the calls of a Happy New Year.



Sitting at the table, watching everyone dance to James' spinning, she turned to Monroe. "Where have you been this week?"

She saw him close his eyes, his brow creasing in concentration. After a few moments he nodded, looking up to the stage as the song went from urban trance to a spicy salsa mix. "Here, why don't I show you?"

His smirk confused her as he held out his hand, taking her out to the dance floor. She looked around, seeing all of the savvy dancers, Lupe dominating a large section with their cousin, Ulric. A group was beginning to form around the two.

Tala let him guide her through the gathering crowd until she was exposed to the center. She turned quickly to Monroe as he took her hands, immediately falling into the steps of the dance.

Laughing hysterically, she took his lead, allowing him to spin her out. He brought her close as she gasped. "You learned how to do this in five days?"

He continued, not missing a beat of the song. "I'm a quick learner." He spun her out again, followed by a dip toward the ground. As he held her there, he added, "Plus, your mom's a good teacher."

Feeling the blood rush from her head as he brought her back up, she was dizzy from delight. "You really are willing to do whatever you can for me, aren't you?"

"Did you ever doubt me?" He did a quick spin himself, taking this time for them to show off. "Let's see," he continued, "I sang in front of thousands of people, I learned how to dance so that you'd never have to worry about a partner again, and I even came back after you told me to take a hike." He dipped her one last time as the song was ending. "I think that says 'I love you' in plenty of ways."

Grinning, she shook her head. Lupe was demanding a turn with Monroe, so she backed off, scanning the crowd for a new partner. She spotted Thierry coming toward her. She pulled up her dress, meeting him half-way. "Wanna dance?"

"How did you know?" he asked, offering his hand. A rumba beat filled the air as they moved with the music.

"So I see that sometime during your millennia of life you've learned to dance?" she asked casually, paying attention to the dance order. *Slow . . . quick, quick, slow . . .*

He laughed, rolling his eyes. "I had to find a way to kill time waiting for her." He nodded his head toward where Hannah and Vesta were. "Speaking of which, happy with how your soulmate dilemma turned out?"

She gave him a sly grin. "Very much so. I still want to cause bodily damage to all of you for yesterday and tonight's events, though. You're not getting off easy because I'm in love."

"Now would be the best time to take me out," he said, stumbling over his feet and quickly recovering. "I haven't danced like this in over fifty years. You could easily hurt me."

She chuckled. "Nah. I'd rather wait until you're least expecting it!"

Eventually she found herself back in the arms of Monroe, gliding together in a slow song. Well, technically it was slow. James had put some jungle trance back on the stereo. She swayed with him in the euphoric pink haze of their bond, enjoying the sync of their minds, knowing that most of her friends were doing the same.