Disclaimer: NOT MINE!!!!
A/N:
(1) Thank you so much to my reviewers! My total number of reviews for all of my fics combined is 394 so I just need six more to make it 400!
(2) This is the last chapter unless I decide to write an Epilogue, so let me know if you want one.
(3) The first dress is based on one that I saw Halle Berry wear in The Golden Globe Awards 2003.
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Holly woke up Saturday morning determined to go buy a dress and get it over with. It was the last thing she wanted to do, which was precisely why she had to because if she didn't do it *now*, she wouldn't do it tomorrow and she would end up without a dress on Friday.
Holly sighed and got out of bed. She stumbled half asleep over to the bathroom, took a quick shower and immerged fully awake. She walked over to the dresser and opened her underwear drawer. She pushed aside all the loose socks on top, looking for the underwear she knew was buried beneath it. Instead of feeling underwear, though, she felt a button.
"What?" she mumbled to herself while taking the drawer out of the dresser, dumping all of her underwear and socks on the floor and pressing the button. The board that was the bottom of the drawer started to come out. Still pushing the button, Holly lifted the bottom out. She gasped. There was what appeared to be a dressed folded neatly and tucked into the drawer. Holly took it out and unfolded it.
The dress was made of pale blue silk and was floor length. It had a semi- low neckline that Holly figured would show off exactly the right amount. There was also a long shawl. Holly bit her lip in indecision. Should she really wear this dress? It had been Nichkola's, but Root *had* said that she could wear her clothes. Of course, that was only until she could get some of her own.
"There is, of course, the question of if it even *fits* you," the voice in her head said, finally coming back.
"Oh . . . right," Holly replied. She quickly threw on some underwear and tried the dress on. Oddly enough, it fit her perfectly. "Why would it fit me?" she asked herself.
"That isn't the question. The question is, are you going to wear it or not?" the voice asked.
"I don't know!" Holly almost yelled. "If I knew, this wouldn't be an issue!"
"Call Foaly. He knows Root better than you," the voice suggested.
Hmm . . . That *was* a pretty good idea. Holly changed out of the dress, rewrapped herself in the towel and called Foaly.
"Yeah?" Foaly answered.
"Hey. It's Holly," she said.
"Why, hello! What is it?" Foaly asked, obviously glad to hear her.
"Well . . . umm . . . I found this old dress of Nichkola's and it fits me and I want to wear it to the dance but I don't know if I should," Holly said all in one breath. "At one point, he said that I could wear Nichkola's clothes, but that was when I didn't have any of my own. And you know him better than I do, so what do you think I should do?"
"Wait a second. Back up. Who's Nichkola?" Foaly asked.
"Am I on speaker phone?" Holly asked.
"Gimme a second . . . Now you're not," Foaly answered. "Switched to headphones. Now who's Nichkola?"
"Root's dead wife," Holly told him.
"So *that's* her name!" Foaly said. "I've been trying to find out since I knew he had once been married."
"Just don't tell him I told you," Holly requested. "Do you think I should wear the dress?"
"Where'd you find it?" Foaly asked.
"Umm . . . In a secret compartment of the underwear drawer in the dresser that I'm using," Holly told him, again all in one breath.
"Hmm . . ." Foaly seemed to consider. "Well-" He interrupted himself to take a large bite out of something crunchy.
"Foaly, I thought Root confiscated your carrots," Holly said suspiciously.
"He did. I got more," Foaly explained. "And about the dress, I'd say go for it. If he gets angry at you, you can just say that you did have his permission."
"Thanks," Holly said and hung up. She carefully folded the dress and put it back where she had found it, along with the shawl. Holly dumped all of her underwear back into the drawer again and quickly got dressed.
"Now what are you going to do?" the voice in her head asked. "Because last night you had told Root that you were going to go shopping for a dress this morning, so what are you going to tell him?"
This presented an interesting question. "Well . . . I could just go out . . ."
"And return with no bags?" the voice asked sceptically. "Not likely. You could go down to the drug store and get some makeup, though."
"D'Arvit," Holly muttered out loud. She had forgotten about makeup. She had *never* worn any before and it didn't seem like such a good idea to make her first time right before she would get promoted. "Well, I don't *have* to wear makeup," she told herself.
"Are you *sure*?" the voice asked.
"Yes," Holly snapped at herself. "I'll be fine in just the dress."
"Then what are you going to do?" the voice repeated.
"Umm . . ." Holly trailed off. What *should* she do? "I could go wander around the mall and buy like a three dollar cloth or something so it will look like a dress . . ."
"Not likely," the voice told her. "You hate the mall."
"Well what do *you* suggest I do?" Holly snapped at herself.
"Buy yourself a dress instead of wearing Nichkola's old one," the voice suggested.
"Don't have enough money," Holly told herself. It was true. She hadn't known what she was going to do. Finding Nichkola's dress had been a real stroke of luck.
"Ask Root," the voice recommended. "He already bought you all of those other clothes. Just tell him that without a dress you can't go to the dance so it's really his fault."
"Good idea," Holly complimented herself and walked upstairs to go ask Root for money. She found him in the kitchen. "Good morning," she said cheerfully.
"Morning," Root grunted from behind his newspaper.
"You know the dance?" Holly asked him.
"Mmm," Root replied, making it obvious that he was still reading.
"Well I need money," she told him.
Root finally put the paper down. "Why?"
"A dress," Holly told him. "Because since I don't have one, if I can't buy one then I can't go so it will really be your fault."
Root smiled slightly at her. "You've thought this through, haven't you?"
Holly nodded her head and smiled hopefully.
"How much do you need?" he asked.
"Umm . . ." Holly trailed off. "I have no idea?" she said as if it was a question.
Root sighed. "I could come-"
"No!" Holly interrupted. At Root's look, she said, "I mean, no. I haven't ever bought a dress and I don't want to look idiotic." Holly mentally bit her lip, praying that he would leave her *idiotic* explanation alone. In truth, she wanted it to be a surprise.
Root raised an eyebrow. "Alright," he said slowly.
"Yesssss," Holly though to herself.
"So would you like me to give you my credit card?" he asked sceptically.
"Umm . . . ok," Holly replied and cursed herself for using the word umm too many times. She didn't say umm. She just didn't.
Root got up and Holly trailed him to his front door. He reached into the drawer in the table that was next it He pulled out is wallet and took out his credit card. "Keep in mind that I have ways of finding out what you do," he warned her as he handed her the card.
"Yessir," Holly said. Root laughed. "What?" she asked him suspiciously.
"I thought we were friends," he said.
"And?" Holly asked.
"If we're friends, then out of work you don't have to call me sir," Root told her.
"Oh!" Holly replied, blushing slightly. "Yes, I know that. It's just habit."
"Well . . . Have fun," he said lamely as Holly strapped on the Hummingbirds she had borrowed when she had gone shopping before and left.
"Thanks!" she called after as she flew away.
*
Holly woke up one week later an hour earlier before she usually did. The previous week had passed relatively uneventfully except for Frond's trial where she had been pronounced guilty and sent to Howler's Peak for life. Today she didn't have work since everyone involved in setting up the dance, stage and building would all be busy, as well as the fact that anybody else would just get in the way. Frankly, Holly had never seen the big deal in decorating it, but she had never been a big one on fancy occasions.
"Ok . . . so what am I going to do during the twelve hours before the ceremony?" she asked herself.
"Read?" the voice suggested lamely. "Watch TV?"
"As if," Holly muttered under her breath, but picked up "Gambling With Time" and started reading. She hadn't gotten around to finishing it, what with finally getting back to work, Frond's trial and getting ready for her promotion. There was an uncanny amount of paper work that needed to be filled out as well as a test, which she passed with flying colours.
*
Exactly five, forty-five minutes, before she had to leave, Holly snapped off the TV and started getting ready. She had been doing absolutely nothing since she had woken up and the only thing she was grateful about was that Root had been at the LEP all day getting things ready so she didn't have to worry about running into him.
"Okay," she told herself. "Calm down. Shower first." Even though she had already taken a shower that day, Holly had decided earlier that day to take another one so she could start off fresh. Holly climbed into the shower and quickly turned the heat up. She had a bad habit of setting the water too cold to begin with. She glanced at the various shampoos and conditioners that had been Nichkola's. She really did have a very good selection. Holly grabbed a bottle of shampoo at random, quickly washed her hair and then selected a conditioner and conditioned it. After quickly washing herself, she stepped out of the shower and dried off.
Holly left the bathroom still in her towel and went over to the bag that contained the dress she had bought as well as the makeup that she couldn't resist. Holly figured that if she really screwed up, she could always wash it off again. Carefully as to not wrinkle the dress before she had worn it, Holly put it on and almost took it off again. Even for her standards, this was an ok dress, but she *did* hate dresses.
"That doesn't matter. It's just one night," she told herself as she walked carefully over to the vanity that she hadn't touched until now. Holly dumped the makeup on it and began sorting through it, deciding to use the easiest first.
"What's the easiest again?" she asked herself almost frantically.
"Calm down. It's only a dance," the voice in her head told her soothingly. "Try the lipstick first."
"Ok, I can do that," she told herself and started putting it on.
*
"Calm down, calm down," Holly repeated to herself as she paid the driver of the taxi that she had come in. "Just calm down." Holly took a deep breath and walked up the front steps of the LEP and into the hallway. She had to admit, as far as decorations went, it *did* look pretty nice. There were strands of tiny lights along the walls as well as little clusters of holly. She flinched. Holly *hated* it when people used holly as decorations.
"Calm down," the voice told her. "It's just a plant."
"Right . . . just a plant," Holly told herself as she walked down the hall and into the cafeteria where the ceremony and then the dance would take place. "Wow . . ." she mumbled under her breath. The long tables that were usually there were no where to be seen, replaced instead with tables with either two or three chairs around them, except for one larger table where Holly saw the Council was sitting.
Holly glanced at the clock. Five minutes of six. Perfect. She made her way to a table in back, hoping no one would see her until she had to go on stage. Even though she had just managed to get slightly used to the dress, she wasn't eager for all the other fairies that knew she never wore either dresses or makeup to start in on her until absolutely necessary. She scanned the room for Root, but didn't see him.
"Thank God," she whispered to herself.
"You're glad you're not *seeing* him when, if all goes to plan, you'll be *dancing* with him soon?" the voice in her head asked.
"Yep," Holly told the voice. Pushing it and all other thoughts away, she started looking for other fairies she knew just in case one was headed her way. None were.
"Okay," she told herself. "At least one thing is going right."
"Attention, attention please," an important looking elf said from where he was standing in the centre of the stage. "I'd like to start by thanking all of the fairies responsible for making this all possible . . ."
He started reeling off a long list of names and Holly toned him out, instead looking for either Root or Foaly. Where *were* they?
"And now," he eventually said after finishing the list, "the elf who will be presenting the badges, Commander Julius Root!" There was applause as he stepped on stage.
"D'Arvit!" Holly whispered out loud. This was not good. This was not part of the plan. She was *not* supposed to have Root see her for the first time on stage as he was handing her the Lieutenant badge.
"Thank you," Root said after a couple of seconds. "First, those being promoted to Corporal."
As Root read off the list, Holly looked at him. He looked much better in a tux than in the standard LEP uniform she usually saw him in. It seemed to make him look thinner and almost younger. Holly then realized that she better pay attention unless she wanted to miss her name being called and struggled to pay attention. After a seemingly endless time, Root finally said,
"And lastly, those being promoted to Lieutenant. Holly E Short."
Taking a deep breath, Holly stood up and started to walk what now seemed like an eternal distance to the stage. She felt eyes on her and could've sworn she heard murmurings, although she reasoned that it was just her nerves.
"Stay calm," the voice told her. "And don't trip."
"Oh, thanks," Holly snapped at herself. "Something else to worry about." But suddenly there was no time to worry as she stepped up on stage and took the badge from Root.
"Congratulations," he said warmly, shaking her hand.
"Thank you," Holly smiled. She went off the stage as quickly as she could without running and returned to her seat. Once she was sitting, she felt a considerable amount calmer. It was over. She didn't have to worry about it anymore.
"Yeah, but you *do* have to worry about what Foaly has planned," the voice in her head reminded her.
"I don't care," she told the voice. "I did it. I'm officially Lieutenant Short."
Holly watched as the two other fairies that were becoming Lieutenants went up on stage and then it really *was* over. Everybody started to get up and walked over to congratulate everybody else as they went into the room which had been prepared for the dance segment. Holly wasn't actually sure what it was used for otherwise, but decided that it didn't really matter since she had more important things to worry about.
"Holly! You did great!" she heard Foaly's voice say form behind her. Holly turned around and saw Foaly standing in front of her. "Congratulations again, of course," he added as an after thought.
Holly laughed and was surprised to hear how nervous it came out. "Thanks," she said.
"You look great as well," Foaly said. "Is that Nichkola's dress?"
Holly shook her head. "I decided that I wanted my own," she told him.
"Well, it really suits you," Foaly told her. Quieter, he added, "When do you want to dance?"
"Soon, to get it over with," Holly said quietly, feeling as though she was part of a conspiracy of some sort.
"I'll get everything ready, then," Foaly said and disappeared into the crowd.
Holly took a deep breath. "Calm down," she told herself one last time before going into the dancing room. It was decorated the same as everywhere else, with strings of bell and the stupid holly, so it wasn't that big a deal. There were some tables in the back of the room and a buffet along the opposite wall. Not knowing what else to do, she headed over there.
"Congratulations, Holly!" she heard a voice say from behind her.
Holly turned around and saw Trouble standing in front of her, also wearing a tux, but not looking nearly as good as Root did.
"That's because you're in love with Root," the voice told her.
"Thanks," she smiled.
"You look so different," Trouble remarked.
Holly flinched. It was starting. "Thanks," she said stiffly.
Trouble cocked his head, listening to the music. "Want to dance?" he asked her, holding out a hand.
"Thanks, but I don't dance," she told him.
"Ok," Trouble replied and walked off.
Holly rolled her eyes. What was it with men and dancing? She continued to make her way to the buffet, this time with no interruptions. Holly looked at the food, trying to find something she didn't hate. Eventually she settled on a cupcake and moved off to the side, watching the other fairies dance. Again, she scanned the crowd for Root, but didn't find him. Suddenly she got worried. What if he already left?
"Then you're in luck," the voice told her. "You won't have to dance. Just ask Trouble to say you danced with him."
"But-" Holly started to argue, but was interrupted by the sight of Root. He was picking his way through the crowd to the buffet, not looking at her.
"Go ask him!" the voice urged her. "Just ask and get it over with!"
"No way," Holly argued. "Foaly said that *he'd* arrange it."
"You're acting like a high school girl with a crush now *go ask him*!" the voice insisted.
Holly was about to comply when she saw that Root had noticed her. He smiled at her and started to walk over.
"Congratulations," he repeated once he was close enough to talk to her.
"Thank you again, sir," she replied.
"We're friends, remember?" Root told her. "No "sirs" out of work."
"I did think this counted as 'out of work'," Holly told him.
"I didn't think eating and dancing qualified as work, but . . ." he trailed off.
Holly rolled her eyes. "Eating unhealthy foods I don't like and dancing count as work for me."
Root laughed and Holly suddenly realized that he was looking more and more like the elf in the photograph as the night went on. "And it's barely even started yet," she thought, almost in awe. "If this is what happens when he's at dances, I might have to go more often."
"Do you like the decorations?" he asked. "I wasn't in charge of food, a good thing as it turns out."
"Yeah, I guess," she replied. "The holly . . ."
Root seemed to suddenly realize what he had decorated with. "Oops," he said, making Holly laugh slightly. She had never heard him say "oops" before and never thought she would again.
It was then that Foaly walked over to them and it took all of Holly's control not to start blushing at the look that Foaly gave her. "Having a good time?" he asked.
"No," Holly replied. She glanced at Root. "But that wasn't the purpose of night, was it?"
"The purpose of tonight was the promotions," Root told her. "And to keep up a good appearance. But if you have fun, then I suppose that's alright."
Holly couldn't help but smile slightly. "I'll do my best not to then."
"*I* know a way you might have fun," Foaly told her. "You could *dance*."
Holly glared at him as inconspicuously as possible for the look he was now giving her. "I don't dance," she snapped.
"Holly, you *know* you have to dance at least once," Root reminded her.
Holly looked at him pleadingly. "Please can you make an exception?" she asked, borderline whined.
"Sorry, but no," Root replied and started to walk off so he wouldn't get further yelled at.
"Julius, wait!" Foaly said. "Since *you're* so eager to get Holly to dance, why don't *you* dance with her?"
Holly was *almost* impressed with how smoothly Foaly pulled it off. It *did* seem like had just thought of it.
"I mean, don't *you* have to dance as well, or is that just for Lieutenants?" Foaly asked him. "Don't you have to keep up an appearance as well?"
Root turned around. "Don't call me Julius," he snapped at Foaly.
"Fine, fine. *Root*, don't you have to dance?" Foaly corrected impatiently.
"Well, yes, but-"
"It's ok," Holly interrupted. "I can find somebody else." She ignored the fact that it felt like somebody had just punched her in the stomach and that her knees were weakening. "He's just a guy," Holly told herself. "You can find somebody else. Besides, maybe he's like you and just doesn't like to dance."
Root sighed. "No, it's alright."
Foaly smiled hugely at him. "Oh, good," he said and left, not before giving Holly a wink that she stored away to later punish him for.
There were a few moments of silence before the song that had been playing ended and the lead singer of the band said, "This song goes out to two very special fairies," and started to play.
Holly added a note to her punishment to ask Foaly about that. "Umm . . . I'm just warning you that I can't dance," she said.
Root took Holly's hand and led her away from the buffet. "The first step is not knocking the food over." Holly smiled slightly and had to work very hard to control a nervous laugh. When they were a considerable amount away from the food, Root reached out and pulled her closer against him. "Then just . . . dance," he said, wrapping one arm around her waist and holding her hand with his other. Holly wasn't sure what to do with her other hand, but settled on resting it on his shoulder. She could feel herself blushing and hoped that Root couldn't see her. That would be a little embarrassing. She could also feel the way his fingers were twined with hers and the hand resting on her hip.
"Calm down," she told herself. "Just dance." Holly took a breath that she hoped Root didn't notice and listened to the music. It was sung in English which surprised her, until she realized that the last song had been sung in German. Apparently the band was taking advantage of the fact that fairies could understand all languages. As Holly listened to the song, she felt herself turning redder. If the "two very special fairies" were herself and Root and Foaly had set this song up, as she suspected, it was actually rather embarrassing. The song was so mushy. But it was also easy to dance to. Holly let herself relax against Root, leaning her head on his chest, as she listened. Without realizing it, she started to hum along to the song.
"Do you know this?" Root asked.
"No, but I like it," she said. "Do you know it?"
"No," he answered. "I don't generally listened to music this sappy."
Holly felt herself flush. "I don't either. I just like the song."
They fell silent again, listening to the music. The second time the chorus came, Root quoted along with it.
"'There was love all around, but I never heard it singing, no I never heard it at all till there was you'," he mused. "You like that?"
Holly blushed. "Yeah, I guess," she stammered. The song then ended and Holly stepped out of the partial embrace she had been in. "So that was my dance. Can I go now?"
"If you want, I suppose," Root answered. Holly turned away from him and was about to leave when he said, "Unless you'd like to have another dance."
Holly turned around and wondered just how red she was. "Sure," she replied and moved back into his arms. The next song was also in English and Holly wondered if Foaly had set this song up as well.
//Hold me close and tell me how you feel//
//Tell me love is real//
As Holly settled into the rhythm of the music, she thought about just how much she wanted to hear Root tell her that he loved her. "But that's not going to happen," she told herself.
"He just asked you for a second dance," the voice commented.
"Go away," Holly snapped at herself and focused instead on memorizing the dance. She first catalogued how good it felt to have Root's fingers twined in her own as he held her hand and then how wonderful it felt to have his other hand on her hip, holding her against him. Lastly, she revelled in the fact that she was this close to Root, that she was leaning against him, and how her head felt resting on his shoulder. But maybe she thought too much because she had to bite her lip against the tightness that was forming in her stomach. When the song was over and they separated, she was almost glad. *Almost*.
"Are you leaving now?" Root asked.
"Yeah," Holly replied. "As much . . ." she searched for the correct word, ". . . fun dancing with you is, I still hate formal occasions."
"Then I'll see you when I get home," Root told her and disappeared into the crowd.
Holly couldn't conceal her huge smile as she rode in the taxi that was waiting outside home. She suddenly realized that she thought of Root's house as her home, which only made her smile more. Once she was *home*, she paid the driver and went quickly down to the basement where she changed into the large, *buttoned* work shirt she used as pygamas.
"Now what?" she asked herself. "Root will probably wait until the whole thing is over before coming home, so he won't be back for another couple of hours."
But apparently she was wrong because she heard the front door open. "What are you doing home so soon?" Holly asked him as she walked up the stairs to the first floor.
He laughed. "I decided that I agree with you and it was boring," he said.
Holly laughed as well. "So what were you planning on doing the rest of the evening?"
Eyeing her pyjamas, Root asked, "Well, we could stay up all night and watch a movie to celebrate."
Holly smiled widely. "Sounds like fun. I suppose you'll want to change?"
Root nodded. "I'll meet you in the living room?"
"Sure," she replied and went into the living room to wait for him. When he finally came in, he was wearing sweatpants and a loose tee-shirt.
"What movie?" he asked.
"I don't really care," she answered. "Actually," she added, "on second thought, a mudman movie because you rarely have to think about them since most of them they're shallow."
Root looked at her oddly. "Well, you're in luck. Nikki thought the same way, so I actually happen to have a large collection of mudman movies. Any in particular?"
"Something funny," she requested.
Root looked through his movies until he finally pulled out one. "Have you heard of Two Weeks Notice?" he asked.
Holly shook her head. "What's it about?"
"It's a romantic comedy," he said, putting in the DVD. Root then went over to the couch and sat down next to Holly. "Need I say more?"
Holly laughed and shook her head again. "Sounds good," she said and settled into the couch, moving slightly closer to Root again. About halfway through the movie, waking up at five in the morning finally started to take its toll on Holly and she started to drowse. By the time the movie was over, she was fast asleep.
Root turned off the TV and glanced at Holly. He smiled. He took the large blanket he kept draped over the back of the couch and covered Holly with it. "Goodnight," he said softly and left.
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Ok, I lied. Things didn't quite work out as I though so there will be at least one more chapter. Hope you're happy. I still haven't decided about an epilogue, though, so let me know!
A/N:
(1) Thank you so much to my reviewers! My total number of reviews for all of my fics combined is 394 so I just need six more to make it 400!
(2) This is the last chapter unless I decide to write an Epilogue, so let me know if you want one.
(3) The first dress is based on one that I saw Halle Berry wear in The Golden Globe Awards 2003.
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Holly woke up Saturday morning determined to go buy a dress and get it over with. It was the last thing she wanted to do, which was precisely why she had to because if she didn't do it *now*, she wouldn't do it tomorrow and she would end up without a dress on Friday.
Holly sighed and got out of bed. She stumbled half asleep over to the bathroom, took a quick shower and immerged fully awake. She walked over to the dresser and opened her underwear drawer. She pushed aside all the loose socks on top, looking for the underwear she knew was buried beneath it. Instead of feeling underwear, though, she felt a button.
"What?" she mumbled to herself while taking the drawer out of the dresser, dumping all of her underwear and socks on the floor and pressing the button. The board that was the bottom of the drawer started to come out. Still pushing the button, Holly lifted the bottom out. She gasped. There was what appeared to be a dressed folded neatly and tucked into the drawer. Holly took it out and unfolded it.
The dress was made of pale blue silk and was floor length. It had a semi- low neckline that Holly figured would show off exactly the right amount. There was also a long shawl. Holly bit her lip in indecision. Should she really wear this dress? It had been Nichkola's, but Root *had* said that she could wear her clothes. Of course, that was only until she could get some of her own.
"There is, of course, the question of if it even *fits* you," the voice in her head said, finally coming back.
"Oh . . . right," Holly replied. She quickly threw on some underwear and tried the dress on. Oddly enough, it fit her perfectly. "Why would it fit me?" she asked herself.
"That isn't the question. The question is, are you going to wear it or not?" the voice asked.
"I don't know!" Holly almost yelled. "If I knew, this wouldn't be an issue!"
"Call Foaly. He knows Root better than you," the voice suggested.
Hmm . . . That *was* a pretty good idea. Holly changed out of the dress, rewrapped herself in the towel and called Foaly.
"Yeah?" Foaly answered.
"Hey. It's Holly," she said.
"Why, hello! What is it?" Foaly asked, obviously glad to hear her.
"Well . . . umm . . . I found this old dress of Nichkola's and it fits me and I want to wear it to the dance but I don't know if I should," Holly said all in one breath. "At one point, he said that I could wear Nichkola's clothes, but that was when I didn't have any of my own. And you know him better than I do, so what do you think I should do?"
"Wait a second. Back up. Who's Nichkola?" Foaly asked.
"Am I on speaker phone?" Holly asked.
"Gimme a second . . . Now you're not," Foaly answered. "Switched to headphones. Now who's Nichkola?"
"Root's dead wife," Holly told him.
"So *that's* her name!" Foaly said. "I've been trying to find out since I knew he had once been married."
"Just don't tell him I told you," Holly requested. "Do you think I should wear the dress?"
"Where'd you find it?" Foaly asked.
"Umm . . . In a secret compartment of the underwear drawer in the dresser that I'm using," Holly told him, again all in one breath.
"Hmm . . ." Foaly seemed to consider. "Well-" He interrupted himself to take a large bite out of something crunchy.
"Foaly, I thought Root confiscated your carrots," Holly said suspiciously.
"He did. I got more," Foaly explained. "And about the dress, I'd say go for it. If he gets angry at you, you can just say that you did have his permission."
"Thanks," Holly said and hung up. She carefully folded the dress and put it back where she had found it, along with the shawl. Holly dumped all of her underwear back into the drawer again and quickly got dressed.
"Now what are you going to do?" the voice in her head asked. "Because last night you had told Root that you were going to go shopping for a dress this morning, so what are you going to tell him?"
This presented an interesting question. "Well . . . I could just go out . . ."
"And return with no bags?" the voice asked sceptically. "Not likely. You could go down to the drug store and get some makeup, though."
"D'Arvit," Holly muttered out loud. She had forgotten about makeup. She had *never* worn any before and it didn't seem like such a good idea to make her first time right before she would get promoted. "Well, I don't *have* to wear makeup," she told herself.
"Are you *sure*?" the voice asked.
"Yes," Holly snapped at herself. "I'll be fine in just the dress."
"Then what are you going to do?" the voice repeated.
"Umm . . ." Holly trailed off. What *should* she do? "I could go wander around the mall and buy like a three dollar cloth or something so it will look like a dress . . ."
"Not likely," the voice told her. "You hate the mall."
"Well what do *you* suggest I do?" Holly snapped at herself.
"Buy yourself a dress instead of wearing Nichkola's old one," the voice suggested.
"Don't have enough money," Holly told herself. It was true. She hadn't known what she was going to do. Finding Nichkola's dress had been a real stroke of luck.
"Ask Root," the voice recommended. "He already bought you all of those other clothes. Just tell him that without a dress you can't go to the dance so it's really his fault."
"Good idea," Holly complimented herself and walked upstairs to go ask Root for money. She found him in the kitchen. "Good morning," she said cheerfully.
"Morning," Root grunted from behind his newspaper.
"You know the dance?" Holly asked him.
"Mmm," Root replied, making it obvious that he was still reading.
"Well I need money," she told him.
Root finally put the paper down. "Why?"
"A dress," Holly told him. "Because since I don't have one, if I can't buy one then I can't go so it will really be your fault."
Root smiled slightly at her. "You've thought this through, haven't you?"
Holly nodded her head and smiled hopefully.
"How much do you need?" he asked.
"Umm . . ." Holly trailed off. "I have no idea?" she said as if it was a question.
Root sighed. "I could come-"
"No!" Holly interrupted. At Root's look, she said, "I mean, no. I haven't ever bought a dress and I don't want to look idiotic." Holly mentally bit her lip, praying that he would leave her *idiotic* explanation alone. In truth, she wanted it to be a surprise.
Root raised an eyebrow. "Alright," he said slowly.
"Yesssss," Holly though to herself.
"So would you like me to give you my credit card?" he asked sceptically.
"Umm . . . ok," Holly replied and cursed herself for using the word umm too many times. She didn't say umm. She just didn't.
Root got up and Holly trailed him to his front door. He reached into the drawer in the table that was next it He pulled out is wallet and took out his credit card. "Keep in mind that I have ways of finding out what you do," he warned her as he handed her the card.
"Yessir," Holly said. Root laughed. "What?" she asked him suspiciously.
"I thought we were friends," he said.
"And?" Holly asked.
"If we're friends, then out of work you don't have to call me sir," Root told her.
"Oh!" Holly replied, blushing slightly. "Yes, I know that. It's just habit."
"Well . . . Have fun," he said lamely as Holly strapped on the Hummingbirds she had borrowed when she had gone shopping before and left.
"Thanks!" she called after as she flew away.
*
Holly woke up one week later an hour earlier before she usually did. The previous week had passed relatively uneventfully except for Frond's trial where she had been pronounced guilty and sent to Howler's Peak for life. Today she didn't have work since everyone involved in setting up the dance, stage and building would all be busy, as well as the fact that anybody else would just get in the way. Frankly, Holly had never seen the big deal in decorating it, but she had never been a big one on fancy occasions.
"Ok . . . so what am I going to do during the twelve hours before the ceremony?" she asked herself.
"Read?" the voice suggested lamely. "Watch TV?"
"As if," Holly muttered under her breath, but picked up "Gambling With Time" and started reading. She hadn't gotten around to finishing it, what with finally getting back to work, Frond's trial and getting ready for her promotion. There was an uncanny amount of paper work that needed to be filled out as well as a test, which she passed with flying colours.
*
Exactly five, forty-five minutes, before she had to leave, Holly snapped off the TV and started getting ready. She had been doing absolutely nothing since she had woken up and the only thing she was grateful about was that Root had been at the LEP all day getting things ready so she didn't have to worry about running into him.
"Okay," she told herself. "Calm down. Shower first." Even though she had already taken a shower that day, Holly had decided earlier that day to take another one so she could start off fresh. Holly climbed into the shower and quickly turned the heat up. She had a bad habit of setting the water too cold to begin with. She glanced at the various shampoos and conditioners that had been Nichkola's. She really did have a very good selection. Holly grabbed a bottle of shampoo at random, quickly washed her hair and then selected a conditioner and conditioned it. After quickly washing herself, she stepped out of the shower and dried off.
Holly left the bathroom still in her towel and went over to the bag that contained the dress she had bought as well as the makeup that she couldn't resist. Holly figured that if she really screwed up, she could always wash it off again. Carefully as to not wrinkle the dress before she had worn it, Holly put it on and almost took it off again. Even for her standards, this was an ok dress, but she *did* hate dresses.
"That doesn't matter. It's just one night," she told herself as she walked carefully over to the vanity that she hadn't touched until now. Holly dumped the makeup on it and began sorting through it, deciding to use the easiest first.
"What's the easiest again?" she asked herself almost frantically.
"Calm down. It's only a dance," the voice in her head told her soothingly. "Try the lipstick first."
"Ok, I can do that," she told herself and started putting it on.
*
"Calm down, calm down," Holly repeated to herself as she paid the driver of the taxi that she had come in. "Just calm down." Holly took a deep breath and walked up the front steps of the LEP and into the hallway. She had to admit, as far as decorations went, it *did* look pretty nice. There were strands of tiny lights along the walls as well as little clusters of holly. She flinched. Holly *hated* it when people used holly as decorations.
"Calm down," the voice told her. "It's just a plant."
"Right . . . just a plant," Holly told herself as she walked down the hall and into the cafeteria where the ceremony and then the dance would take place. "Wow . . ." she mumbled under her breath. The long tables that were usually there were no where to be seen, replaced instead with tables with either two or three chairs around them, except for one larger table where Holly saw the Council was sitting.
Holly glanced at the clock. Five minutes of six. Perfect. She made her way to a table in back, hoping no one would see her until she had to go on stage. Even though she had just managed to get slightly used to the dress, she wasn't eager for all the other fairies that knew she never wore either dresses or makeup to start in on her until absolutely necessary. She scanned the room for Root, but didn't see him.
"Thank God," she whispered to herself.
"You're glad you're not *seeing* him when, if all goes to plan, you'll be *dancing* with him soon?" the voice in her head asked.
"Yep," Holly told the voice. Pushing it and all other thoughts away, she started looking for other fairies she knew just in case one was headed her way. None were.
"Okay," she told herself. "At least one thing is going right."
"Attention, attention please," an important looking elf said from where he was standing in the centre of the stage. "I'd like to start by thanking all of the fairies responsible for making this all possible . . ."
He started reeling off a long list of names and Holly toned him out, instead looking for either Root or Foaly. Where *were* they?
"And now," he eventually said after finishing the list, "the elf who will be presenting the badges, Commander Julius Root!" There was applause as he stepped on stage.
"D'Arvit!" Holly whispered out loud. This was not good. This was not part of the plan. She was *not* supposed to have Root see her for the first time on stage as he was handing her the Lieutenant badge.
"Thank you," Root said after a couple of seconds. "First, those being promoted to Corporal."
As Root read off the list, Holly looked at him. He looked much better in a tux than in the standard LEP uniform she usually saw him in. It seemed to make him look thinner and almost younger. Holly then realized that she better pay attention unless she wanted to miss her name being called and struggled to pay attention. After a seemingly endless time, Root finally said,
"And lastly, those being promoted to Lieutenant. Holly E Short."
Taking a deep breath, Holly stood up and started to walk what now seemed like an eternal distance to the stage. She felt eyes on her and could've sworn she heard murmurings, although she reasoned that it was just her nerves.
"Stay calm," the voice told her. "And don't trip."
"Oh, thanks," Holly snapped at herself. "Something else to worry about." But suddenly there was no time to worry as she stepped up on stage and took the badge from Root.
"Congratulations," he said warmly, shaking her hand.
"Thank you," Holly smiled. She went off the stage as quickly as she could without running and returned to her seat. Once she was sitting, she felt a considerable amount calmer. It was over. She didn't have to worry about it anymore.
"Yeah, but you *do* have to worry about what Foaly has planned," the voice in her head reminded her.
"I don't care," she told the voice. "I did it. I'm officially Lieutenant Short."
Holly watched as the two other fairies that were becoming Lieutenants went up on stage and then it really *was* over. Everybody started to get up and walked over to congratulate everybody else as they went into the room which had been prepared for the dance segment. Holly wasn't actually sure what it was used for otherwise, but decided that it didn't really matter since she had more important things to worry about.
"Holly! You did great!" she heard Foaly's voice say form behind her. Holly turned around and saw Foaly standing in front of her. "Congratulations again, of course," he added as an after thought.
Holly laughed and was surprised to hear how nervous it came out. "Thanks," she said.
"You look great as well," Foaly said. "Is that Nichkola's dress?"
Holly shook her head. "I decided that I wanted my own," she told him.
"Well, it really suits you," Foaly told her. Quieter, he added, "When do you want to dance?"
"Soon, to get it over with," Holly said quietly, feeling as though she was part of a conspiracy of some sort.
"I'll get everything ready, then," Foaly said and disappeared into the crowd.
Holly took a deep breath. "Calm down," she told herself one last time before going into the dancing room. It was decorated the same as everywhere else, with strings of bell and the stupid holly, so it wasn't that big a deal. There were some tables in the back of the room and a buffet along the opposite wall. Not knowing what else to do, she headed over there.
"Congratulations, Holly!" she heard a voice say from behind her.
Holly turned around and saw Trouble standing in front of her, also wearing a tux, but not looking nearly as good as Root did.
"That's because you're in love with Root," the voice told her.
"Thanks," she smiled.
"You look so different," Trouble remarked.
Holly flinched. It was starting. "Thanks," she said stiffly.
Trouble cocked his head, listening to the music. "Want to dance?" he asked her, holding out a hand.
"Thanks, but I don't dance," she told him.
"Ok," Trouble replied and walked off.
Holly rolled her eyes. What was it with men and dancing? She continued to make her way to the buffet, this time with no interruptions. Holly looked at the food, trying to find something she didn't hate. Eventually she settled on a cupcake and moved off to the side, watching the other fairies dance. Again, she scanned the crowd for Root, but didn't find him. Suddenly she got worried. What if he already left?
"Then you're in luck," the voice told her. "You won't have to dance. Just ask Trouble to say you danced with him."
"But-" Holly started to argue, but was interrupted by the sight of Root. He was picking his way through the crowd to the buffet, not looking at her.
"Go ask him!" the voice urged her. "Just ask and get it over with!"
"No way," Holly argued. "Foaly said that *he'd* arrange it."
"You're acting like a high school girl with a crush now *go ask him*!" the voice insisted.
Holly was about to comply when she saw that Root had noticed her. He smiled at her and started to walk over.
"Congratulations," he repeated once he was close enough to talk to her.
"Thank you again, sir," she replied.
"We're friends, remember?" Root told her. "No "sirs" out of work."
"I did think this counted as 'out of work'," Holly told him.
"I didn't think eating and dancing qualified as work, but . . ." he trailed off.
Holly rolled her eyes. "Eating unhealthy foods I don't like and dancing count as work for me."
Root laughed and Holly suddenly realized that he was looking more and more like the elf in the photograph as the night went on. "And it's barely even started yet," she thought, almost in awe. "If this is what happens when he's at dances, I might have to go more often."
"Do you like the decorations?" he asked. "I wasn't in charge of food, a good thing as it turns out."
"Yeah, I guess," she replied. "The holly . . ."
Root seemed to suddenly realize what he had decorated with. "Oops," he said, making Holly laugh slightly. She had never heard him say "oops" before and never thought she would again.
It was then that Foaly walked over to them and it took all of Holly's control not to start blushing at the look that Foaly gave her. "Having a good time?" he asked.
"No," Holly replied. She glanced at Root. "But that wasn't the purpose of night, was it?"
"The purpose of tonight was the promotions," Root told her. "And to keep up a good appearance. But if you have fun, then I suppose that's alright."
Holly couldn't help but smile slightly. "I'll do my best not to then."
"*I* know a way you might have fun," Foaly told her. "You could *dance*."
Holly glared at him as inconspicuously as possible for the look he was now giving her. "I don't dance," she snapped.
"Holly, you *know* you have to dance at least once," Root reminded her.
Holly looked at him pleadingly. "Please can you make an exception?" she asked, borderline whined.
"Sorry, but no," Root replied and started to walk off so he wouldn't get further yelled at.
"Julius, wait!" Foaly said. "Since *you're* so eager to get Holly to dance, why don't *you* dance with her?"
Holly was *almost* impressed with how smoothly Foaly pulled it off. It *did* seem like had just thought of it.
"I mean, don't *you* have to dance as well, or is that just for Lieutenants?" Foaly asked him. "Don't you have to keep up an appearance as well?"
Root turned around. "Don't call me Julius," he snapped at Foaly.
"Fine, fine. *Root*, don't you have to dance?" Foaly corrected impatiently.
"Well, yes, but-"
"It's ok," Holly interrupted. "I can find somebody else." She ignored the fact that it felt like somebody had just punched her in the stomach and that her knees were weakening. "He's just a guy," Holly told herself. "You can find somebody else. Besides, maybe he's like you and just doesn't like to dance."
Root sighed. "No, it's alright."
Foaly smiled hugely at him. "Oh, good," he said and left, not before giving Holly a wink that she stored away to later punish him for.
There were a few moments of silence before the song that had been playing ended and the lead singer of the band said, "This song goes out to two very special fairies," and started to play.
Holly added a note to her punishment to ask Foaly about that. "Umm . . . I'm just warning you that I can't dance," she said.
Root took Holly's hand and led her away from the buffet. "The first step is not knocking the food over." Holly smiled slightly and had to work very hard to control a nervous laugh. When they were a considerable amount away from the food, Root reached out and pulled her closer against him. "Then just . . . dance," he said, wrapping one arm around her waist and holding her hand with his other. Holly wasn't sure what to do with her other hand, but settled on resting it on his shoulder. She could feel herself blushing and hoped that Root couldn't see her. That would be a little embarrassing. She could also feel the way his fingers were twined with hers and the hand resting on her hip.
"Calm down," she told herself. "Just dance." Holly took a breath that she hoped Root didn't notice and listened to the music. It was sung in English which surprised her, until she realized that the last song had been sung in German. Apparently the band was taking advantage of the fact that fairies could understand all languages. As Holly listened to the song, she felt herself turning redder. If the "two very special fairies" were herself and Root and Foaly had set this song up, as she suspected, it was actually rather embarrassing. The song was so mushy. But it was also easy to dance to. Holly let herself relax against Root, leaning her head on his chest, as she listened. Without realizing it, she started to hum along to the song.
"Do you know this?" Root asked.
"No, but I like it," she said. "Do you know it?"
"No," he answered. "I don't generally listened to music this sappy."
Holly felt herself flush. "I don't either. I just like the song."
They fell silent again, listening to the music. The second time the chorus came, Root quoted along with it.
"'There was love all around, but I never heard it singing, no I never heard it at all till there was you'," he mused. "You like that?"
Holly blushed. "Yeah, I guess," she stammered. The song then ended and Holly stepped out of the partial embrace she had been in. "So that was my dance. Can I go now?"
"If you want, I suppose," Root answered. Holly turned away from him and was about to leave when he said, "Unless you'd like to have another dance."
Holly turned around and wondered just how red she was. "Sure," she replied and moved back into his arms. The next song was also in English and Holly wondered if Foaly had set this song up as well.
//Hold me close and tell me how you feel//
//Tell me love is real//
As Holly settled into the rhythm of the music, she thought about just how much she wanted to hear Root tell her that he loved her. "But that's not going to happen," she told herself.
"He just asked you for a second dance," the voice commented.
"Go away," Holly snapped at herself and focused instead on memorizing the dance. She first catalogued how good it felt to have Root's fingers twined in her own as he held her hand and then how wonderful it felt to have his other hand on her hip, holding her against him. Lastly, she revelled in the fact that she was this close to Root, that she was leaning against him, and how her head felt resting on his shoulder. But maybe she thought too much because she had to bite her lip against the tightness that was forming in her stomach. When the song was over and they separated, she was almost glad. *Almost*.
"Are you leaving now?" Root asked.
"Yeah," Holly replied. "As much . . ." she searched for the correct word, ". . . fun dancing with you is, I still hate formal occasions."
"Then I'll see you when I get home," Root told her and disappeared into the crowd.
Holly couldn't conceal her huge smile as she rode in the taxi that was waiting outside home. She suddenly realized that she thought of Root's house as her home, which only made her smile more. Once she was *home*, she paid the driver and went quickly down to the basement where she changed into the large, *buttoned* work shirt she used as pygamas.
"Now what?" she asked herself. "Root will probably wait until the whole thing is over before coming home, so he won't be back for another couple of hours."
But apparently she was wrong because she heard the front door open. "What are you doing home so soon?" Holly asked him as she walked up the stairs to the first floor.
He laughed. "I decided that I agree with you and it was boring," he said.
Holly laughed as well. "So what were you planning on doing the rest of the evening?"
Eyeing her pyjamas, Root asked, "Well, we could stay up all night and watch a movie to celebrate."
Holly smiled widely. "Sounds like fun. I suppose you'll want to change?"
Root nodded. "I'll meet you in the living room?"
"Sure," she replied and went into the living room to wait for him. When he finally came in, he was wearing sweatpants and a loose tee-shirt.
"What movie?" he asked.
"I don't really care," she answered. "Actually," she added, "on second thought, a mudman movie because you rarely have to think about them since most of them they're shallow."
Root looked at her oddly. "Well, you're in luck. Nikki thought the same way, so I actually happen to have a large collection of mudman movies. Any in particular?"
"Something funny," she requested.
Root looked through his movies until he finally pulled out one. "Have you heard of Two Weeks Notice?" he asked.
Holly shook her head. "What's it about?"
"It's a romantic comedy," he said, putting in the DVD. Root then went over to the couch and sat down next to Holly. "Need I say more?"
Holly laughed and shook her head again. "Sounds good," she said and settled into the couch, moving slightly closer to Root again. About halfway through the movie, waking up at five in the morning finally started to take its toll on Holly and she started to drowse. By the time the movie was over, she was fast asleep.
Root turned off the TV and glanced at Holly. He smiled. He took the large blanket he kept draped over the back of the couch and covered Holly with it. "Goodnight," he said softly and left.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Ok, I lied. Things didn't quite work out as I though so there will be at least one more chapter. Hope you're happy. I still haven't decided about an epilogue, though, so let me know!